Friday, October 3, 2008

Focus

I'm talking about focus on Sunday morning. Here is what I have come up with so far...
Focusing a camera – Creating lasting memories
He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” -Joshua 4:5-7
To change one’s life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions. –William James
How can God direct our steps if we are not taking any?
Focusing the projector – Being authentic
But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” -Ruth 1:16-17
Before his death, Rabbi Zusya said, “In the coming world, they will not ask me: ‘Why were you not Moses?’ They will ask me: ‘Why were you not Zusya?’”
Focusing a microscope – Being accepting
Now Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute. Gilead’s wife also had several sons, and when these half brothers grew up, they chased Jephthah off the land. “You will not get any of our father’s inheritance,” they said, “for you are the son of a prostitute.” So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Soon he had a band of worthless rebels following him. –Judges 11:1-3
If you can learn a simple trick, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his or her point of view. –Harper Lee
Focusing a telescope – Keeping our eyes on God
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. –Hebrews 12:1-2
O Lord, you have formed us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in you. –St. Augustine

Photo by Steve Wall

Training Update:

16.2 miles this morning with Christy at about 7:40 per mile. Easy running and good conversation is always a joy in 45 degree weather with blue skies and a bright sun that is beginning to warm the day. Two laps around Lake Zorinsky plus another mile and a half.

No comments: