For a while now I have been feeling a pain in my left foot - it was in a very specific area at the ball of my foot at the base of my 2nd toe. I self diagnosed a stress fracture - I've had one before and I know what that pain is like. I took time off from running - 3 weeks. The pain of not running exceeded the pain caused by running. I finally gave it up and went to visit Dr. Bill Johncock - a Podiatrist in Hickory. Dr. Johncock is a Christian, a father, a Podiatrist and a runner - a good one at that. His marathons number somewhere in the 80's. But the real story lies in his dad - Jerry Johncock.
Bill's dad is 82 years old. Bill describes him as a lean 135 pounds. He says he has the biomechanics for a runner - something I only wish I had. Jerry Johncock can apparently run long distances and he just never has any pains or issues. I have them often. Jerry Johncock discovered the joy of running in his early 50's and he continues to run at age 82. This past Sunday Jerry Johncock completed his 110th marathon - yes, you read that right. At the tender age of 82 this man ran a marathon in 4 hours 31 minutes. That's about the same time that I can run a marathon in. For a man my age that is no big feat, for a man of 82 years to run a marathon at all, much less in 4 1/2 hours - that's amazing. But he does have that biomechanic thing going for him.
Bill has some stories about his dad's running history - I will let you talk to him about those. I saw Bill as a patient 6 days ago - I have run twice since and am pretty much pain free today. Dr. Johncock knows feet, he knows running and I recommend him if you have problems with your feet. But I didn't type these words to be an advertisement for his services. Tonight I am praising God that He allowed me to feel the agony of defeet. Why? Because it gave me an opportunity to reconnect with Bill Johncock.
I'm running a little slower than normal until healing happens completely. So if you see me running down the streets of Hickory give me a toot - we can connect that way!
Terry
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wild Life
The word "wild" applies to the words "you" and "me".
While taking a walk thru an African park one day,
I saw a sign say, "The animals have the right of way".----from Wild Life, by Paul McCartney
4:45 AM - out of bed, brush my teeth, put on running clothes - then out the door. Why I am meeting my running buddies at this crazy hour is beyond me, but I am not asleep so I should be doing something productive, right? Driving down Falling Creek Road on my way to begin my run I see a couple or three dogs in the road - odd, I think. It turns out that they are coyotes. Wild Life right here in my neighborhood. As we preapre to run I look up into the dark, starlit sky. Orion is shining brightly overhead, bow drawn with his arrow pointed directly at Ursa Major - the Big Bear, aka the Big Dipper. Orion is prepared to shoot some wild life of his own. After our run I am letting our Jack Russell wannabe out for her morning business. She sneezes as she approaches the door - I say "Bless You"...to a dog. I chuckle. Wild Life. Upstairs as I am preparing for work Diane rolls over and says "did you realize that you didn't turn off your alarm clock before you left!" Dern! She was wakened at 5:00 AM to that awful sound of the alarm clock. Wild. Life.
Then coffee with my java buds - I get caffeinated up and ready for the ride up Hwy 321. Driving on that road should be a NASCAR event. On a road that should have a 45 MPH speed limit, but it is actually 55 MPH, which means most everyone drives 64 MPH. Life in the wild fast lane.
God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. -- Genesis 1:25
So 10/07/10 started off early for me and it has been WILD to this point. I've witnessed God's creation in all their glory...the stars, the animals, the drivers....the coffee drinkers. A beautiful start to what I am sure will be an awesome day. Even in the darkness that exists at 4:45 AM, God's Awesome Glory cannot be suppressed.
Let's let our (wild) light shine today....for Him!
Terry
While taking a walk thru an African park one day,
I saw a sign say, "The animals have the right of way".----from Wild Life, by Paul McCartney
4:45 AM - out of bed, brush my teeth, put on running clothes - then out the door. Why I am meeting my running buddies at this crazy hour is beyond me, but I am not asleep so I should be doing something productive, right? Driving down Falling Creek Road on my way to begin my run I see a couple or three dogs in the road - odd, I think. It turns out that they are coyotes. Wild Life right here in my neighborhood. As we preapre to run I look up into the dark, starlit sky. Orion is shining brightly overhead, bow drawn with his arrow pointed directly at Ursa Major - the Big Bear, aka the Big Dipper. Orion is prepared to shoot some wild life of his own. After our run I am letting our Jack Russell wannabe out for her morning business. She sneezes as she approaches the door - I say "Bless You"...to a dog. I chuckle. Wild Life. Upstairs as I am preparing for work Diane rolls over and says "did you realize that you didn't turn off your alarm clock before you left!" Dern! She was wakened at 5:00 AM to that awful sound of the alarm clock. Wild. Life.
Then coffee with my java buds - I get caffeinated up and ready for the ride up Hwy 321. Driving on that road should be a NASCAR event. On a road that should have a 45 MPH speed limit, but it is actually 55 MPH, which means most everyone drives 64 MPH. Life in the wild fast lane.
God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. -- Genesis 1:25
So 10/07/10 started off early for me and it has been WILD to this point. I've witnessed God's creation in all their glory...the stars, the animals, the drivers....the coffee drinkers. A beautiful start to what I am sure will be an awesome day. Even in the darkness that exists at 4:45 AM, God's Awesome Glory cannot be suppressed.
Let's let our (wild) light shine today....for Him!
Terry
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Praise
I've read the book of Job and how he praised God through the many trials that he faced. It's amazing that he had the ability to sing praises to God in the midst of such severe trials. I can read that, be moved by it and then find myself bogged down by my own small trials. In the midst of my being bogged down, I lose sight of what the Almighty is trying to teach me through the pain that He is allowing me to feel. But He is trying to teach me and I bet He is trying to teach you as well.
Let's decide today to feel the pain that we have, not to mask over it. Let's cry tears of sadness when they are appropriate. And let's cry out to our Creator for deliverance. But while doing those things that acknowledge our pain......let's PRAISE our Lord. We can bring glory to God in this way.
"The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21)
Praising God at this moment.....
Terry
Let's decide today to feel the pain that we have, not to mask over it. Let's cry tears of sadness when they are appropriate. And let's cry out to our Creator for deliverance. But while doing those things that acknowledge our pain......let's PRAISE our Lord. We can bring glory to God in this way.
"The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21)
Praising God at this moment.....
Terry
HeartFelt
[Author's Note: For those receiving this blog for the first time: Terry writes a weekly blog devotion including an invitation to join him and his friends at Java Journey for a time of fellowship on Thursday mornings. Read my words here, join me at Java Journey this and every Thursday morning from 6:30 AM til 7:45 AM.]
[Editors Note: Terry wrote these words, but they came directly from Me. Be encouraged, be blessed. YHWH]
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. ---2 Corinthians 8:9
========================================
Way back in my High School days I read a book by John Howard Griffin titled Black Like Me. The book was published in 1961 and was a non-fiction account of a white man who passed himself off as a black man, while traveling on Greyhound buses and hitchhiking in the deep south. He wanted to feel what it was like to be a black man in those racially prejudiced times. Griffin kept a journal of his experiences and that journal was the basis for his book. It was good to read of his experiences. This past Friday night a dozen or so folks from FBC participated in Plunge 2 Poverty - a simulation where we lived in a cardboard box that we constructed for one night, we didn't eat, we had visits from the HPD who talked to us about the homeless in our area. It was an eye-opening time as we had moments of experiencing just a bit of what the poor and homeless in our area go through. Also this weekend the youth and some adults from FBC had the honor of manning a rest station for Brett's Ride. Brett Gosnell died of a rare form of cancer as a very young college student and his family hosts a bike ride each year in the fall to honor Brett and to raise awareness and money for cancer research. After helping with this event I pondered a bit about what it must feel like for the Gosnell family to have experienced the death of their child. They honor him in a big way each year, but the pain of their loss must be difficult to bear.
Mr Griffin experienced a small taste of what the life of a black man was like way back in the early 1960's.
Some FBC folks this weekend experienced a small taste of poverty and homelessness.
I pondered moments of the pain the Gosnell family must have experienced over their loss.
Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.--John 16:22
But guys, none of those attempts come close to the reality of the pain, despair and grief these folks have felt. We can make feeble attempts at feeling another person's pain or life experiences, and I think it's a good thing to attempt it, but we cannot truly know how another soul on the planet feels. Monday morning on my drive in to Caldwell Hospice, I experienced another one of those awesome drives where Almighty God was right there with me in my car. The air was cool, the sky was covered with intermittent clouds - deep grays, bold whites and intense pinks as the sun shone on them from a distance. There is one view of Grandfather Mountain I get while coming down Hwy 90 into Lenoir that was just spectactular. I was awestruck and I was having one of my moments with my Creator. And I can make feeble attempts at describing my feelings to you, but my desire is for you to feel them for yourself. This morning, my King was holding my heart and He can truly feel what lies therein.
In our brief life on Earth, we will feel moments of hopelessness and despair, we will feel intense pain and grief, and we will have some awesome mountaintop experiences that take our breath away. And all through those feelings and emotions, God Almighty is there with us, carrying us, holding our hearts, whispering into our ear that He LOVES us. You see, He loves us, His creation, so much that He sent His son to die for us. Ponder on that for some time today - make feeble attempts at feeling the love that God has for you. Trust me, you won't get close to knowing the depth of that love, but it is a good thing to make attempts to feel it. And when you do feel moments of His love for you, then make another attempt at sharing that experience with another soul. A soul who needs an encouraging word, who needs a hand up, a soul who is in the midst of despair, grief or lonliness. Reach out and touch the heart of another soul with the love of your Creator. Two souls will be blessed in the process.
Challenge: Reach out and touch someone's hand. Make this world a better place...if you can.
"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you."
~ Frederick Buechner
Sorry guys, but I cannot word it any better than Diana Ross did in the song that I quoted in my challenge above. I think Mr. Griffin made the world a better place. I believe the folks who organized our Plunge 2 Poverty are making attempts. And I know that Brett Gosnell has made the world a better place. Let's join their efforts, let's carry on their legacy, let's honor our King. Let's make attempts at sharing in the pain and grief of our friends and then let's reach out and touch them. OK, all together now....both hands raised high in the air...sing along with me...reach out and touch, somebody's hand....make this world a better place, if you can. Reach out and touch......
And early on Thursday morning won't you join me over at Java Journey for some awesome time of fellowship? Guys I am touched each week while hearing accounts of your lives, your struggles and your joy. Join me there and together we can start a Revolution of Caring. You know, we all want to change the world. C U there.
Terry
=========================================
To make an attempt at knowing who Brett Gosnell was, read the words on this site: http://www.brettsride.org/docs/who_was_brett.pdf
To learn more about Plunge2Poverty...ask Dacia Jones
To read Black Like Me, order the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Black-Like-John-Howard-Griffin/dp/0451192036
To learn more about God's amazing Love for YOU, read His word here: http://www.biblegateway.com/
[Editors Note: Terry wrote these words, but they came directly from Me. Be encouraged, be blessed. YHWH]
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. ---2 Corinthians 8:9
========================================
Way back in my High School days I read a book by John Howard Griffin titled Black Like Me. The book was published in 1961 and was a non-fiction account of a white man who passed himself off as a black man, while traveling on Greyhound buses and hitchhiking in the deep south. He wanted to feel what it was like to be a black man in those racially prejudiced times. Griffin kept a journal of his experiences and that journal was the basis for his book. It was good to read of his experiences. This past Friday night a dozen or so folks from FBC participated in Plunge 2 Poverty - a simulation where we lived in a cardboard box that we constructed for one night, we didn't eat, we had visits from the HPD who talked to us about the homeless in our area. It was an eye-opening time as we had moments of experiencing just a bit of what the poor and homeless in our area go through. Also this weekend the youth and some adults from FBC had the honor of manning a rest station for Brett's Ride. Brett Gosnell died of a rare form of cancer as a very young college student and his family hosts a bike ride each year in the fall to honor Brett and to raise awareness and money for cancer research. After helping with this event I pondered a bit about what it must feel like for the Gosnell family to have experienced the death of their child. They honor him in a big way each year, but the pain of their loss must be difficult to bear.
Mr Griffin experienced a small taste of what the life of a black man was like way back in the early 1960's.
Some FBC folks this weekend experienced a small taste of poverty and homelessness.
I pondered moments of the pain the Gosnell family must have experienced over their loss.
Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.--John 16:22
But guys, none of those attempts come close to the reality of the pain, despair and grief these folks have felt. We can make feeble attempts at feeling another person's pain or life experiences, and I think it's a good thing to attempt it, but we cannot truly know how another soul on the planet feels. Monday morning on my drive in to Caldwell Hospice, I experienced another one of those awesome drives where Almighty God was right there with me in my car. The air was cool, the sky was covered with intermittent clouds - deep grays, bold whites and intense pinks as the sun shone on them from a distance. There is one view of Grandfather Mountain I get while coming down Hwy 90 into Lenoir that was just spectactular. I was awestruck and I was having one of my moments with my Creator. And I can make feeble attempts at describing my feelings to you, but my desire is for you to feel them for yourself. This morning, my King was holding my heart and He can truly feel what lies therein.
In our brief life on Earth, we will feel moments of hopelessness and despair, we will feel intense pain and grief, and we will have some awesome mountaintop experiences that take our breath away. And all through those feelings and emotions, God Almighty is there with us, carrying us, holding our hearts, whispering into our ear that He LOVES us. You see, He loves us, His creation, so much that He sent His son to die for us. Ponder on that for some time today - make feeble attempts at feeling the love that God has for you. Trust me, you won't get close to knowing the depth of that love, but it is a good thing to make attempts to feel it. And when you do feel moments of His love for you, then make another attempt at sharing that experience with another soul. A soul who needs an encouraging word, who needs a hand up, a soul who is in the midst of despair, grief or lonliness. Reach out and touch the heart of another soul with the love of your Creator. Two souls will be blessed in the process.
Challenge: Reach out and touch someone's hand. Make this world a better place...if you can.
"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you."
~ Frederick Buechner
Sorry guys, but I cannot word it any better than Diana Ross did in the song that I quoted in my challenge above. I think Mr. Griffin made the world a better place. I believe the folks who organized our Plunge 2 Poverty are making attempts. And I know that Brett Gosnell has made the world a better place. Let's join their efforts, let's carry on their legacy, let's honor our King. Let's make attempts at sharing in the pain and grief of our friends and then let's reach out and touch them. OK, all together now....both hands raised high in the air...sing along with me...reach out and touch, somebody's hand....make this world a better place, if you can. Reach out and touch......
And early on Thursday morning won't you join me over at Java Journey for some awesome time of fellowship? Guys I am touched each week while hearing accounts of your lives, your struggles and your joy. Join me there and together we can start a Revolution of Caring. You know, we all want to change the world. C U there.
Terry
=========================================
To make an attempt at knowing who Brett Gosnell was, read the words on this site: http://www.brettsride.org/docs/who_was_brett.pdf
To learn more about Plunge2Poverty...ask Dacia Jones
To read Black Like Me, order the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Black-Like-John-Howard-Griffin/dp/0451192036
To learn more about God's amazing Love for YOU, read His word here: http://www.biblegateway.com/
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Heavenly Timpani
[Editors Note: Terry chose to ramble just a bit here - actually alot. I couldn't stop him. If you don't have 10 minutes right now, then read this later when you can slow down and savor every word. He has asked that you - the reader - be blessed somehow by these words. May it be so.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth. ---Psalm 77:17
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth. ---Psalm 77:17
Good Morning Java Journey Fellowship Group:
Sunday night I was sitting out on my front porch a little after 11 pm. I was enjoying the warm night, the gentle breeze stirring, the intermittent clouds blowing past the bright, large moon. It was a nice evening to be sitting outside waiting on my dogs to take care of business. I wondered for a few minutes why the weather couldn't have been this nice just 24 hours ago, when my son and I were camping beside the Linville River - way down deep in the Linville Gorge. It began raining in the gorge about 4 pm Saturday afternoon and rained steady, not hard but steady until about 5 AM Sunday morning. We cooked our supper with our rain gear on, we ate out in the elements, we cleaned up our kitchen mess and we talked a bit with the two other Boy Scout adults who were brave (stupid) enough to stand out in the rain. Mike asked, "what do you think this weather looks like on the Weather Channel right now?" I said I am sure it would be a big green blob on the radar. Gene said he had watched the weather channel and a big "red" blob was coming! Geoffrey and I went to our tent about 8 or so as we were tired of being in the rain.
In our tent we were dry - the tent was doing its job. We lay there and talked, we played word games, we were silly, we were serious. We laughed - alot. Geoffrey and I lay there in the tent beside the Linville River in the steady rain and he and I had a moment - we enjoyed each other's company and we bonded as father and son just a bit. After a couple of hours we were getting tired so we decided to get some sleep. As the night wore on, the rain got just a bit more steady and we were still dry. Sometime around 3 AM there was a big flash of lightning and then the most amazing sound I have heard in a long time. It sounded like timpani - kettle drums - being played with gusto as the thunder bounced off the walls of the gorge. The sound rolled back and forth bouncing from the East wall then to the West wall of the gorge. This "heavenly timpani" concert played on for several seconds, the sound so deep that it rattled the ground beneath our wet tents. I turned to Geoffrey and said "did you hear that?". "Yes", he replied. I said, "we would be a 'red blob' on the Weather Channel right now!" The rain got harder, beating on the top of our little tent. The timpani concert and the light show continued for a while.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ---James 1:2
Back to Sunday night and my pondering about the weather again....if we had had beautiful weather Saturday night in the gorge, we would have missed that special time of laughing in our tent - we would have been outside around the campfire with the other boy scouts. We would have missed the sound of the rain beating on the top of our tent, we would have missed the awesome light show provided by the lightning. We would have missed the heavenly timpani rolling through the gorge. It was one of those times when the circumstances could have been difficult, but God provided an opportunity for father and son to laugh, talk, bond - and then to see His glory in nature.
and all of creation sing with me now
lift up your voice and lay your burden down
and all of creation sing with me now
fill up the heavens let his glory resound
lift up your voice and lay your burden down
and all of creation sing with me now
fill up the heavens let his glory resound
----from All of Creation, by Mercy Me
Sometimes we humans think we know exactly what we want - clear blue skies, warm dry air, a campfire surrounded by people. God will give days like those. But He may choose to give us some rain, some thunder - some time alone with our son. Whatever the circumstances - rain or shine, warm or chilly, bountiful or meager....these are circumstances that Almighty God has placed us in. And in the midst of what could be the considered a trial by most of us - in the very midst of the worst of all that - the heavenly timpani began to play. His glory resounds and fills up the heavens. I considered Saturday night - in the steady rain, in the confines of my tent with my son, with the lightning flashing and the thunder roaring - I considered it pure joy. Because my Father was there with me....and my son. And the three of us had a moment. It may have been a "red blob" on the Weather Channel, but it was pure gold in my heart. Amen!
Challenge: take a hike guys. Go into the gorge and sit on a HUGE boulder and see the power of the river as it flows. Take your son, your daughter, your wife, your friend.. And if it begins to rain, don't run for cover - lift up your voice, lay your burden down and with all of creation sing. Consider it pure joy!
Wow! My heart is full as I type these words early on Tuesday morning. Sometimes in life we will find ourselves in the deepest valley.....then it begins to rain. There in that valley of life God loves you just as much as He loves you from the very top of the mountain. He loves you in the valley and He is there with you - providing for your needs. Let's choose to consider it PURE joy. And all together now.......let's lift up our voices and with all of creation sing!
And on Thursday morning early let's gather at Java Journey and enjoy a moment or two with each other there. I'm praying for rain then so we can hunker down in The Gathering Place and sip, and be silly, and be serious...and laugh. C U There.
Terry
the reason we breathe is to sing of his glory
and for all he has done praise the father praise the son
and for all he has done praise the father praise the son
and the spirit in one
----from All of Creation, by Mercy Me
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