Reb Rev's Blog

There is plenty of doom, doubt and disappointment to go around these days. It is easy to find – even if you aren’t looking for it.

But, I think it is times like these when we must sit back and count our blessings – anyway. I’m not talking about some Polly Anna, pie in the sky make believe pretend optimism. I am talking about realistic and practical thankfulness.

I was watching an episode of Clifford the Big Red Dog the other day, and they were celebrating Fall Feast, or some such rot, in place of Thanksgiving. Now, more than ever, we need a good dose of a thankful spirit. Now, I’m not going to argue theology with a cartoon, but I think that depicts a pervasive problem in our society today – we’ve just gotten too politically correct, or too something to be thankful.

Our blessings do not come from Government (did I hear an amen there?), they come from God above. In His Providence, He has seen fit to bless us abundantly. If you can’t think of anything to be thankful for, try these.

You and I can speak and write with freedom.
If you’re reading this, you have the wherewithal to have a computer – and
you can read.

I’m sure you can come up with one or two on your own. Let’s go forth giving thanks to God! And, yes, I know it isn’t even close to November J

This week was the first in which I logged 10 miles running. With 4.2 miles on Monday! I’m not quite ready to do that on a daily basis, (yet). But, thank the Lord, there is no unbearable pain or difficulties.

A couple of my running buddies are running the Myrtle Beach Marathon today.

My wife, Eileen, and I are running our first race in a couple months.

Here is the link http://www.lighthouse10k.com

I hope you are hanging in there with your fitness goals. If not it’s not too late to get back or get started. As Branda Polk says, “It’s about progress, not perfection.”

I just read on FoxNews.com a story about a “botched” abortion in Miami where an 18 year old was prepped for an abortion and the doctor did not arrive on time, so she went into labor and delivered a 23 week old baby girl.

The baby was placed in a plastic bag and thrown out with the trash.

You can read the story here http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,488644,00.html

Does this appall you? It should, but my question is, what is the real difference between this and every other abortion? The mother obviously didn’t want the baby. She paid (apparently) her money. The baby was killed. The answer is there is no real difference, yet so many even those who are “pro-choice” find this particular story disturbing.

It is disturbing. It is heartbreaking. But, so is every abortion and now, once again, we are funding them with our tax dollars and exporting them all over the world.

Just in case you didn’t read the story – no charges have been filed in this case yet, none may be.

May God have mercy.

For those of you keeping up with the running progress- I made it three miles yesterday. It was actually a little over, but it was probably just shy of the 5k length of 3.1 miles.

Again, I must give credit to my runnin’ buddies who constantly encourage me and take turns at my side. Two of them John, Dana will be running in the Myrtle Beach Marathon on Feb 14^th.

A bunch of the crew (minus me) will be running a 200+ mile relay on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Virginia to Asheville – I’m just not quite up to that one yet – maybe next year J

First, let me confess I am no nuclear physicist – I’m just a rocket fuel scientist (okay, I’m not that either). My knowledge of physics is limited to the application of how vehicles behave in a crash.

That confession being made, I have been reading some of the laymen’s articles about the Large Hadron Collider. You may have heard it referred to as the “atom smasher” or “Doomsday Machine.” There was some controversy over its start-up this past summer. It is a machine designed to break down particles into the sub-atomic level. All this in an effort to get to the bottom of where life originated, no doubt so that we can put this idea of God and Creation to rest once and for all.

When they first fired it up last year, it broke down and now the plans are to fix it and get back to smashing atoms this coming summer.

There are some nuclear physicists who, after much math have determined that the by-product of this effort may very well be to create little black holes. You’ve read about them in outer space. They supposedly suck in matter until they collapse on themselves. The argument is made that if they are created, they would begin to draw in all the matter around them.

All of this is “above my pay grade” as our president answered when asked when life begins. However, if it all is possible and, according to some of these scientists, probable, could this be the modern equivalent to the Tower of Babel? It all sounds very familiar, man trying to attain the place of God. I know from Scripture our end is not to get sucked into a black hole, but I also know God is an awesome, Holy Creator Who will not allow man or any other part of creation to take His place.

By the way, I’m sure the Maytag Man isn’t the one who fixes this machine and it didn’t come from Circuit City – so the expense has got to be enormous. I wonder if our government has put any money into it and if so how much. Maybe they could sell it and use the money to fund one of these huge bailout proposals.

Well, we don’t get much of it here in Eastern NC, but when it does snow, it sure is pretty – especially, when they call off work for the day. Okay, I know it costs a day of vacation, but it doesn’t happen that often.

These are photos from the front yard of our hacienda. Now, it’s time to warm up J

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NKJV)

This coming Tuesday we will see one of the most enduring symbols of democracy carried out. That is the peaceful transition of government from one administration to another. History will be made in that our first black president will take office.

There is a lot of speculation in what President may or may do in his first days. But, as Christians, we need to pray that the first thing he will do each and every day is to seek God’s guidance for the day in the leading of this nation. We need to pray for those who will be chosen to give him guidance and direct the policies of this nation in the coming years.

We need to pray for his safety and that of his family. We should pray that in the busy-ness of the office which he will hold, he will not forget that his primary role is as a husband and father.

May we be faithful in our duty to pray.

I have written a couple of posts regarding running and fitness. This isn’t going to become a fitness blog, but I plan to write a little more in this area.

As is the case with many folks, I “used to be” in pretty good shape. Then I woke up twenty years later and found out just how unfit I was. I went with one of my classes on a mountain hike up Mt. Pisgah on the Blue Ridge Parkway just south of Asheville. I’ll spare you the ugly details, but I didn’t make it to the top. I determined then that if I was going to continue to teach that class (which I did) I would make it to the top of the mountain the next year or die trying. Moses died on Mt. Pisgah, maybe Bob would too! J

At that same time, a totally separate thing happened. A very dear friend of mine in the ministry, who was just a little older than me, died of congestive heart failure.

So, just about 2 years ago I started this journey of regaining some level of physical fitness. This week I ran 2 ½ miles in 31 min and am looking forward to running in the Oak Island 5k in April. Then, my goal is an 8k in the fall and a 10k next spring. Those aren’t audacious goals, but they are attainable.

Now, before I go on (for those who have never met me) let me tell you I still do not look like an athlete. I am 5’7″ ish and over 235 lbs (I won’t say how far over). I tell you that because so often we have folks who could grace the cover of “Fit” Magazine telling us about fitness and we think, “I’ll never look like that.” And, most often you’re right! On the other side of the coin, I had one of my students tell me, “I’ve always mistaken being thin for being fit – it’s not the same!” And, she is right.

So, if I can be a voice of encouragement for someone, let me offer this. Set a goal. Is there a mountain you want to climb, a distance you want to run, or some other goal? Set it, set your sights on it and don’t forget it. Being fit is partially a spiritual matter. We are never to worship our bodies, but God has given us this body in which to dwell during whatever time He allows on this earth. We should be good stewards of all that God has given us – including our bodies.

Paul commends us in I Corinthian 6:20 to glorify God in our body and in our spirit. Hang in there, you can do it . . .

I still have the goal of running in a 5000 km (3.1 miles) race in April. I’m not looking to set any land speed records, just try to hang in there and make it in less than 38 min.

I made it 2.5 mi today in 31 minutes thanks to some pretty tricky friends who said. “oh, let’s go this way, it’s just a little farther.”

Several of them are training for a marathon in February.

Love to hear any fitness goals and progress any of you have set for ’09.

Until later, for now I gotta run J

I recently became the proud owner of a kilt. I purchased it mainly for hiking and the tartan (pattern) which most often shows your clan (family or group of families you belong to) is “Leatherneck.” My Scottish heritage is through my mother’s side and is of the Gunn clan.

There is also a law enforcement tartan, so I have several choices for future purchases. Although, I don’t think I’ll switch over my entire wardrobe J

I wore mine recently while we were visiting Colonial Williamsburg. I found I was not the only man wearing a kilt there, and had the pleasure of meeting the other gentleman yesterday while visiting Yorktown. It turns out his name is Rocky and he is a kilt maker. (No wonder he has so many J

I also received as a Christmas gift, a belt and sporran (the pouch worn with a kilt) from a dear friend. These had belonged to her father and had no doubt been worn with pride. I wore the buckle and sporran while we were in Williamsburg.

The picture below was taken on a recent outing to Moore’s Creek battlefield. Although, I must admit, I think the Highlanders were on the wrong side on that one!