While many of the endurance athletes I know are enthusiastic about making intentional, strategic, and expensive (time, money, etc.) training investments for the race season ahead, I fear that many are overlooking this basic cause and effect principle with things that are much more significant.  While we could go in many directions here, I’ll suggest two for this month: seeking God (Mt. 6:33, Col 3:1-2) and disciple-making (Mt. 28:19-20).

While the Holy Spirit is critically necessary to transform a life and work among those you minister to, we are active participants in both processes.  We cannot sit back (or charge ahead with other life activities) and hope that intimacy with God and fruitful disciple-making will come supernaturally through metaphorically sitting around eating doughnuts.  In disciple-making and experiencing intimacy with God, as with physical training, we tend to reap what we sow.  And so, I come before us all, encouraging us to prayerfully consider this principle regarding our walk with God and our disciple-making activities.

To get practical, are you regularly pursuing God in intentional, strategic, and “expensive” ways?  What does your investment look like as you read, study, memorize, and mediate on His Word?  Is it even close to your time in the saddle or out on the running trails?  Is your prayer journal as detailed as your training log?  Are you as dedicated to witnessing to your lost training partner(s) as you are to increasing your overall bike mph?  Have you committed to discipling a new believer with the same commitment and zeal that you have towards attending a crazy-early morning swim group?  Both require discipline and investment, but which one are you practically more committed to?

These are perhaps tough question that we all need to wrestle with a bit.  As you do, I simply exhort you to focus on what’s most important.  This season you will reap what you sow.  Sow wisely my friends!  (Gal 6:7-110).  May we celebrate a bountiful crop at the end of the year!

For God's Glory!

Chris

For me, winning in 2013 looks like _______________________.

Answering this question is important because frankly, if you can’t define your win, you’ll never know if you are actually winning.

Within FCA Endurance, we also pray and think about such things and have answered this question as a ministry.  While our win comes from the mission and vision of FCA, two statements that I hope you know and celebrate, I wanted to take a minute here and boil it down, making it as simple as possible.  Simple enough for everyone on our ministry team to remember.  For us winning equals making disciples in the endurance community!  Even simpler, a win equals a mature disciple.

And so, how does our win affect or involve you?

• If you hate God: winning = making you a bit less hostile to His love
• If you doubt God exists: winning = giving you a reason to doubt your doubts
• If you are exploring things of eternity: winning = inviting you to trust in Jesus
• If you are a new Christian: winning = helping you grow into a mature disciple
• If you are a stagnant in your walk with God: winning = igniting your passion to follow Christ
• If you are a mature disciple: winning = helping you produce more mature disciples
• If you’re somewhere in the middle: winning = helping you know, trust, and love God more completely in the coming year and beyond

That’s what we’re all about.  That’s what drives Huddles, EMI, the Body, Iron Prayers, and all of the other numerous parts of FCA Endurance.  That’s also what we invite you to be a part of.  Exciting huh?!  And now, as you consider your win for 2013, we certainly invite you to share ours.  We would be blessed and honored!

Winning = Making Disciples

Thanks for your partnership in 2013, and God bless your ministry!

For God's Glory,

Chris

FCA Endurance | 2012 Slideshow from Joe Dannelly on Vimeo.

1. In the Great Commission, as given in Matthew 28:19-20, we are commanded by Jesus to “Go, therefore, and make ___________________ of all nations…”
2. As a follower of Jesus, lovingly and joyfully obedient to His commandments, the last three disciples I have intentionally made were named: ________________________,  ________________________, and _________________________.

OK, so how did you do?  Based on a very general understanding of the American church and our ministry team, I’m very optimistic that we did great with question one.  We are commanded to make disciples.

How about question two though?  While it’s not my desire to be pessimistic, I’ll bet a number of you are struggling to name one person, let alone three who you have helped to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and then helped to grow into a mature disciple who is now also making disciples.

As you read and think about these questions and your answers, assuming you are a follower of Jesus, is there a disconnect?  If so, how do you respond to that?  If there's not, I praise the Lord for your faithfulness in making disciples.  For me though… the disconnect is convicting to say the least.  Jesus, my Lord, my Savior, the One who was tortured and killed on my behalf so that I may experience eternal life, the One to whom I will one day give an account, the One whom I say I love has commanded me to make disciples.  How have I responded?  Not well, at least not most of the time.  To be frank and honest, there is a word for what I have been most of my life… disobedient!  I’m NOT OK with this.  Perhaps you’re in the same boat?

Either way, I now finally bring us back to the message I desire to share.  On November 10th and 11th, Pastors Francis Chan and David Platt hosted a powerful, live, three hour webcast where they invited us, the church body, to respond to the Great Commission.  It was a powerful message, and the recording is now available for viewing via the webcast through December 8th (a video of the webinar will be loaded after that time).  And so, here is my request, invitation, and prayer, that you would gather your family, friends, Huddle, small group, or maybe just yourself to go and watch this webcast.  If you do, I believe you will be moved!

http://www.multiplymovement.com/#gatherings

More will be coming regarding this in future months, but for now, please watch and share the video.  Then go, and make disciples.

For God’s Glory,

Chris

In Ephesians 5:15-17, Paul urges us, “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—  making the most of the time, because the days are evil.  So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  As we celebrate and rest, now is also a time to walk wisely and redeem the time.  May we invest our off-season in discerning and following the Lord’s will!

What does this look like for you?  Perhaps it involves spending additional time with your Heavenly Father through prayer and time in the His Word.  It likely involves spending some extra time loving and serving your family and close friends who get less of your time while you focus on training.  I encourage you all to look for ways to get more involved in your local congregations, whether serving the youth, greeting on Sunday mornings, or humbly accepting the most needed role in your church body.  Are you willing to demonstrate additional commitment to your church family through this season?  Lastly, have you considered partnering with other Christian ministries in your community, perhaps serving the homeless, loving the fatherless, or encouraging prisoners, all in Jesus’ name?  There are also likely opportunities to do this with your Huddle or other local Teammates.  Perhaps there’s something else I’ve missed that the Holy Spirit has put on your heart?  Are you ready to faithfully move forward with that, following the Lord’s will?

May we all look for opportunities to make the most of this time individually, with our families, and with our Teammates!  It may be your endurance off-season, but I’ve got a feeling the Lord has something special in mind for you during this time!

May God bless you as you answer the call of, “What now?”

For God's Glory,

Chris

Regardless of what you think the LORD may do in the above, extremely made up scenario, I have some news that many of you will find as either a comfort or surprise. While I cannot say for absolute certainty, I am extremely confident that your PR in anything WILL NOT get brought up in Heaven! Nor will your race finishes or podiums, trips to Kona, or the number of times you’ve beat __________ (fill in the name of anyone in your community with whom you have a ‘healthy rivalry’).

The point of this little scenario is simply to remind us all of why we race. While we are all called to steward our blessings well, including our physical gifts, competing with excellence; we must keep our eyes and hearts on the prize. Don’t let a PR, or some other race-related goal, become your practical idol. Please don’t sacrifice your family for a little more training time. Please don’t rob the LORD of His tithe so you can buy more aero equipment or finance a trip to Boston. Please don’t withhold sharing the Gospel in an effort to be better liked by your training partners. May our sole goal be giving the LORD the glory He deserves, faithfully following our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lastly, in regards to PR’s, I’ve got a new possible suggestion. Instead of striving so hard for Personal Bests, what if we focused on Praise Reports? How did we glorify the LORD through our training and racing? How many did we serve? How did He bless us and those around us? Who did we encourage in Jesus’ name? How did we share the Gospel? Who did we pray with or for? What trial did He give us strength to overcome and how did He bless our efforts? How did we humbly and reverently give Him all glory and praise for this day? While none of this gets our name in the book of life [3], these are eternally focused PR’s that just might get brought up in Heaven.

“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah!” Psalm 150:6
For God's Glory,
Chris

[1] PR = Personal Record, also referred to as PB or Personal Best, is your best time for completing a certain event.

[2] For the complete Gospel message, what will actually make a difference in regards to your name being in the book of life, please see www.whydoyourace.com

[3] We are saved by grace, through faith alone in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9). Works listed here are only potential evidence and fruit of a Spirit-filled life. Again, for the complete Gospel message, visit www.whydoyourace.com

It’s my hope that over the past few months you’ve been given a great opportunity to meet new people and strengthen friendships within the endurance community. Whether you’ve been running with a co-worker once a week, attending a local shop ride regularly, swimming with a masters group, or know the name of every staff member at your local gym; your time invested has prayerfully resulted in favorable relationships. Perhaps other relationships have been grown through shared experiences or friendly rivalries as you have competed with others during the past couple months. Hopefully, in some way, your time invested into training and racing has allowed you special favor in someone else’s life, whether with one person or a whole community.

As we start the month of August, here’s my question, “What are you going to do with these relationships, this favor you have been given in someone else’s life?” That may seem like an odd question, but perhaps reflecting on your relational goals and this season as a whole would help. Is your goal to be friendly or kind, to have another buddy or two, to be well-liked and popular, or to make disciples (Mt. 28:19-20)?

It is my prayer that you are living with an eternal perspective, and as we approach the later parts of this season, that you courageously invite others to move closer to God. Whether you share Jesus with them, invite them to church or to read the Bible with you, or something else that urges them to know our Father; I invite you to ‘cash in’ on the relational investment you’ve made this season.

As I encourage you all to leverage your influence, I want to be clear that this does not come from a heart of mechanical box-checking, legalism, or some sense of obligation. It is my prayer that in each of the possible relationships above, as well as the countless other scenarios that exist within our ministry team, you have a genuine love for those around you. It’s with this heart that we invite others to experience the most precious treasure we know… the Gospel message and love of our Father!

“’Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, then comes the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest. The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so the sower and reaper can rejoice together’” John 4:35-36.

For God's Glory!

Chris

FCA Endurance is by design a para-church ministry, created for a very specific and limited purpose. “Para-“simply means “alongside,” and thus, para-church ministries are created to work alongside the church (vs. in place of). While the purpose of this article isn’t to outline all of the different roles of the local church, it is to point out that FCA Endurance has an intentionally limited scope within the Church and alongside local congregations. Namely, FCA Endurance expands the church’s fellowship, outreach, and discipleship opportunities through endurance sports.

Hoping to create further clarity regarding FCA Endurance’s role alongside the local church, I have invited a dear and respected friend to provide his understanding of the church and the need for each FCA Endurance Teammate to be committed to a local congregation. Lincoln Murdoch is a long-time pastor, church-planter, and servant-leader within endurance sports ministry. Please read and consider his thoughts below (also available independently on Linc’s blog):

Organized Christian groups have often been divided into two categories - the church, and, the para-church. As a fourth generation pastor with over 30 years of ministry experience, mostly within a local church, and as a long-time partner with FCA and FCA Endurance, I’ve got a fairly good understanding of each. It is with this in mind that I have been asked to write a short article regarding the need for the local church and each disciple’s active involvement in a local congregation. While I love FCA; it is important to understand that FCA, and therefore FCA Endurance, is by definition and design a para-church ministry, meaning it comes "alongside" the church, providing a valuable asset and resource for followers of Christ.

Church can take many different forms. I've had the joy of traveling to 30 nations and seeing the church in these places, gaining understanding on how wonderfully diverse the body of Christ is. Small church, mega-church, cell church, house church, and underground church, are just a few of the hundreds of expressions of "church." All are beautiful and we need more of them!

When I was growing up and then through the 80s and even into the early 90s, church was something that was, well, expected. In other words, if you were a follower of Jesus, you were involved regularly and fairly deeply in your local church. Yes, some were also involved in local, regional or national para-church ministries as well, but the local church was the primary spiritual family for believers.

It's now 2012 and things have changed. Our "me-centered" focus that is now heralded everywhere, i.e., "God exists for YOU," vs. the other way around, has taken full effect. The world now revolves around me! I get to choose what I do with my time and all the rest of my resources. So...church is now optional. As long as I'm getting in some good fellowship, whether it be via FCA or some other ministry, or even simply hanging out with Christian friends, I'm good to go.

Church-optional thinking is growing, but, is it Biblical? Is going for a bike ride or run with fellow believers all that God has in mind for His people in this important area of "church?" Here are a few reasons, in this day and age, to really lean into your local church while staying involved with FCA-E too!

1. The local church was the New Testament model and the writer of Hebrews warned us to not skip it. Heb. 10:25. "Do not forsake or skip meeting together as is the habit of some, but encourage one another..."

2. The local church is a place where the believer has covering and accountability. Paul appointed Elders in the churches he planted (Titus 1:5) to give oversight and protection to the believers. Take yourself out from under that type of spiritual covering and you're vulnerable to a number of bad things!

3. The local church is the primary place to find family. Though we all have believing friends in our towns, states, the USA and even around the world, God's design is for us to have a primary spiritual family with spiritual fathers, big brothers and sisters, younger family members, etc. Church IS the family of God don't forget (I Tim. 5:1-2).

4. Worship, prayer, teaching, discipleship and the sacraments are also purposes for believers to be in the church. All of these are obviously Biblical and essential for our spiritual growth.

5. Fellowship. This, among some other things, is what FCA-E is so good at. It provides opportunities for fellowship, relationship and fun with those who are like minded in spiritual matters and also in recreational interests. Wonderful! I love that aspect of FCA-E. But, don't substitute that, for the church. FCA will tell you they are not the church and are not supposed to be someone's "church."

So, I really encourage you in your involvement with FCA-E and it's great mission! I'm SO glad I'm involved. But, be careful that you don't allow that to become your church. Find a good church if you don't have one and get involved by giving, serving, praying and attending regularly, while, at the same time, being part of the FCA-E Team. What a great partnership! FCA-E and the local church. That's good stuff!

My hope in writing this is first to provide a little clarity regarding FCA/FCA Endurance and the C/church. More importantly though, my desire is to urge and encourage each person reading this to be fully and sacrificially committed to a local congregation. This is God’s design for both you and the Church and will result in the Church being more effective at carrying out its mandate in this world. If you are not committed to a local church, now is the time!

Lastly, if you would like to get connected with a local church but don’t know where to start, please check out FCA’s “Guidelines for Choosing a Church” and/or contact me. It would bless me to help you become more fully United & Equipped within the body of Christ!

For God’s Glory,

Church can take many different forms. I've had the joy of traveling to 30 nations and seeing the church in these places, gaining understanding on how wonderfully diverse the body of Christ is. Small church, mega-church, cell church, house church, and underground church, are just a few of the hundreds of expressions of "church." All are beautiful and we need more of them!

When I was growing up and then through the 80s and even into the early 90s, church was something that was, well, expected. In other words, if you were a follower of Jesus, you were involved regularly and fairly deeply in your local church. Yes, some were also involved in local, regional or national para-church ministries as well, but the local church was the primary spiritual family for believers.

It's now 2012 and things have changed. Our "me-centered" focus that is now heralded everywhere, i.e., "God exists for YOU," vs. the other way around, has taken full effect. The world now revolves around me! I get to choose what I do with my time and all the rest of my resources. So...church is now optional. As long as I'm getting in some good fellowship, whether it be via FCA or some other ministry, or even simply hanging out with Christian friends, I'm good to go.

Church-optional thinking is growing, but, is it Biblical? Is going for a bike ride or run with fellow believers all that God has in mind for His people in this important area of "church?" Here are a few reasons, in this day and age, to really lean into your local church while staying involved with FCA-E too!

1. The local church was the New Testament model and the writer of Hebrews warned us to not skip it. Heb. 10:25. "Do not forsake or skip meeting together as is the habit of some, but encourage one another..."

2. The local church is a place where the believer has covering and accountability. Paul appointed Elders in the churches he planted (Titus 1:5) to give oversight and protection to the believers. Take yourself out from under that type of spiritual covering and you're vulnerable to a number of bad things!

3. The local church is the primary place to find family. Though we all have believing friends in our towns, states, the USA and even around the world, God's design is for us to have a primary spiritual family with spiritual fathers, big brothers and sisters, younger family members, etc. Church IS the family of God don't forget (I Tim. 5:1-2)

4. Worship, prayer, teaching, discipleship and the sacraments are also purposes for believers to be in the church. All of these are obviously Biblical and essential for our spiritual growth.

5. Fellowship. This, among some other things, is what FCA-E is so good at. It provides opportunities for fellowship, relationship and fun with those who are like minded in spiritual matters and also in recreational interests. Wonderful! I love that aspect of FCA-E. But, don't substitute that, for the church. FCA will tell you they are not the church and are not supposed to be someone's "church."

So, I really encourage you in your involvement with FCA-E and it's great mission! I'm SO glad I'm involved. But, be careful that you don't allow that to become your church. Find a good church if you don't have one and get involved by giving, serving, praying and attending regularly, while, at the same time, being part of the FCA-E Team. What a great partnership! FCA-E and the local church. That's good stuff!

Answering the question of how to steward our impact well may present a number of potential options.  However, I believe the root begins with faithfully following the Lord’s commands and teaching, resulting in His maximal glory.  Practically, a good starting place for living this out is following Jesus, individually and collectively.  “Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children” (Eph. 5:1). While following Jesus encompasses every area of our lives, today I’m going to focus on one point… service.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life —a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus is our perfect example, and as the definition of love, he lived a life of service.  Whether washing His disciples’ feet or healing strangers in the crowd, he poured Himself out until His brutal torture and death on the cross.  As we follow Him, living out our charge to love our neighbor as ourselves, sacrificially serving others may be our best way to demonstrate love.  And thus, our charge to each person reading this… serve.

The thoughts and promptings above  have resulted in the first-ever FCA Endurance National Day of Service. On June 9, 2012, we invite each of you, individually and collectively, to find a way to serve. How, you may ask?  As the Lord leads!  While there are perhaps countless ways to serve others, I simply ask that it be done boldly in Jesus’ name.  Let there be zero doubt about why you’re doing it and who should get 100% of the glory!

Service opportunities could be divided into two potential categories, and we celebrate both! The first is endurance-related. This would include any opportunity where you serve those in the endurance community. Whether you serve at a race, serve a local secular tri or running club, or find a unique way to bless others involved in endurance sports; you are serving endurance athletes in the endurance community. The benefits of serving within an endurance context are that you get to build relationships with those whom we are specifically trying to reach. It is also a very comfortable way of serving and taps into your unique knowledge base, skill sets, and relationships. As you consider these opportunities, I urge pursuing service options where you get to love and impact others directly (vs. serving by yourself or in ways where this is little/no lasting interaction with those you serve). Ultimately, the best way to bless someone might be meeting the biggest need wherever it is. However, given the choice, choose an option where you get to interact with others, demonstrating radical kindness as an ambassador of our King. Again, I just plead with you to do it boldly in Jesus’ name (vs. as just another nice person).

The second set of service opportunities would be non-endurance related. This includes opportunities created by yourself or those available through partnering with some other evangelical non-profit/ministry or a local church. Consider where the needs are, and plug in. Possible partners include your local Union Gospel Mission, the Salvation Army, a local domestic abuse shelter, a nursing home/hospice facility, a children’s home, a prison, etc. We are all charged to take care of widows, orphans, prisoners, and the destitute, and this may be a long-overdue invitation to roll up your sleeves and love the forgotten. Admittedly, this may stretch many of you (certainly more than helping run registration at a 5K), but this may be exactly what is needed as you faithfully follow our Lord.

Lastly, as we do this together, I invite each of you to log onto The Body and our new forum on Serving to share what you’ll be doing to bless others in the Lord’s name. May this serve as a place of ideas and encouragement for us all!

Perhaps 3,300 people are a small drop in a big bucket when you consider the world population and those who need our help (even if we each involved our friends and family). However, if each of us sacrificially blessed one person, I think there’s a significant impact to be had. There is also something powerful about doing it together! 

“For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus” (2 Cor. 4:5).

Blessed to proclaim with each of you…

For God’s Glory!

When I got on the plane I had a window seat. The guy next to me seemed nice, but then he went fast asleep. I mean, mouth-open asleep. I was thinking, ‘Well, maybe I will just practice on my next connecting flight.’ Then I started reading the Bible. I am totally paraphrasing, but it said something like, ‘If you are going to obey God you better not slack off.’ It was about sharing the Word, I think, and that we don’t have an excuse not to. How is that for God putting me back on track?

So I started praying for the guy who was now snoring with his jaw hanging open. I prayed that God would soften his heart, and he would be open to God’s Word. I prayed that God would use me, and I would boldly say what He wanted me to say. Right before the plane landed the guy woke up. I knew I had to say something, and so I said what I was encouraged to say.

I shared that I had just learned something at an EMI conference that I wanted to go over with my son. I was looking for someone to practice with, and asked if he would be willing to go through it with me. He agreed. We went through the whole verse and picture, and it was like the guy had read the script! God had definitely been working on his heart while he was sleeping. He was completely there.

At the end, when I asked him where he was in the picture, he pointed to the sinner. I asked him if he wanted to be on the other side. He shook his head yes. I said do you want to say a prayer to be on God’s side. He said yes. I said do you want to say it with me or on your own. He said on his own. I asked him if he wanted to say it out loud or quietly. He said quietly and bowed his head and prayed. When he opened his eyes, I asked him if he had a church and suggested that he should get plugged in right away. I also asked him his name so we could pray for him (Nick). Being a new brother is not easy, so we need to pray for him.

It was so easy! God just let it happen.

I learned so much at the EMI conference. One of the concepts I had not thought about before was when a gift becomes yours. This doesn’t happen until you receive it. The EMI watch analogy really opened my eyes regarding the need to accept God’s gift and how that happens. EMI also reminded me that giving a gift is something we do to show someone we love them. God’s gift of salvation is easier to explain with this understanding. It is also easier for me to understand the love behind the gift, the love that motivated the gift of the Gospel.

How is that for inspiring!? I am so grateful for this testimony and simply praise the Lord for how the Holy Spirit moves, for the good news of the Gospel, and for faithful brothers and sisters who are committed to make disciples! Yes!

As I close, I simply ask… are you ready to share the Gospel with someone whom the Lord intentionally sits next to you on a plane, with your son, with a co-worker, or with your running partner? If not, now is the time to get equipped -- either through your church, another ministry or EMI. If you are, God bless you as you faithfully fulfill our common mission! 

For God's Glory!

“…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15.

Similar to physical test races, do you ever do spiritual “test races” to assess your current level of conditioning? If we desire to progress as we race towards winning an imperishable crown (1 Cor. 9:24-27), it might make sense to determine where we are and how well our training is going. With this information, we can more accurately assess what we may need to change in order to get where we are called to go.

As I considered various spiritual “test races” that we could use, understanding that there may be a number of good options, I felt led here: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). As this passage states, these are nine qualities or graces that the Holy Spirit is responsible for producing within us as born-again disciples of Jesus Christ. While this fruit is a direct result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, NOT a result of our own effort, I believe it can be a good “test race,” as it is the evidence of how well we are walking by the Spirit of God (Gal 5:16).

And so, with the “course” laid before you, I invite you to prayerfully “race” through it.

    • Love – Are you exercising selfless love to all, including to those who deserve it least?
    • Joy – Are experiencing inner joy in every circumstance, simply by knowing God?
    • Peace – Do you have peace beyond understanding, rooted in complete trust of God’s plan?
    • Patience – How well do you wait upon the Lord and people, even when you’re busy?
    • Kindness – Do you desire what’s best for others and express that continually?
    • Goodness – How well do you put love into action, especially when it costs you something?
    • Faith – Are you trustworthy and dependable? Does your yes mean yes and your no mean no?
    • Gentleness – Are you considerate and compassionate in how you exercise power & authority?
    • Self-control – How well do you curb selfish or fleshly desires, even if no one else is around?

How did you do? Do you see some victories worth thanking and praising the Holy Spirit for? Do you see some areas where you may not be walking in full-submission to the Lord’s will, allowing your flesh to squelch a bountiful harvest? How was your result versus what you would have raced on the same course a year ago? Are you getting faster? Did you set a PR?

As was noted, the point of doing a test race may not be the race itself, but to gain useful information regarding where you’re at in your training and what needs to change in order to optimally progress towards your end-goals. We’ll cover some spiritual training techniques in future Aid Stations, but for now I invite each of us to reflect further on our current results. Please join me as I praise God for the Holy Spirit and His fruit in my life. Please also join me in repenting from any areas where you’re not walking in full submission with our Lord. Invite God to assume His role as Lord of every area of your life and ask for the Spirit to move powerfully within you as you walk with Him!

May we set a new PR the next time we “race”!

For God’s Glory,
Chris

As the FCA Endurance national staff and Advisory Board continue to seek the Lord’s will regarding our specific ministry strategies for the future, it is important that we continue to learn from our individual and shared experiences regarding what has been effective in the past. To gain additional information regarding what has been effectively impacting people for Christ within the endurance community, as well as what the perceived needs are, we asked for your feedback. During the month of February, we asked each Teammate to submit a brief online survey, sharing their individual experiences about what has impacted them, where they’ve seen impact, how they have been used to impact others, and what they needed to be more effective in the future. 161 people completed the survey, and I’m writing to share a little bit about what we learned.

The first impact question asked athletes what they felt had impacted their personal faith the most within endurance sports. I was honestly a bit surprised that event-related activities had 3 of the top 5 categories, with racing being the top choice. Training solo came in sixth. Based on the relational nature of most ministry, usually including a trust and intimacy created over time, I assumed the top choices would be more fellowship based. However, there is something special about the racing environment and this shared experience. After all, this is partially what keeps us coming back, and it does make sense that we are impacted when our emotions are high.

Our next question was basically, “where have you seen impact take place?” Again, I was a bit surprised by the answers. The top answer had to do with building ministry awareness or discussing the ministry and/or faith, often sparked through using FCA Endurance gear! The next five answers had to do with events. Again, I expected results that would reflect activities allowing for a bit more intimate, deep, or regular fellowship. Admittedly, events and gear are easier to spot and are usually available in a group setting where others can view it (the nature of this question), but this still surprised me a bit. I also reference my point above about event emotions and experiences. No doubt event ministry and wearing FCA Endurance gear create opportunities for perceived impact!

The third question asked where an individual felt they had been used by the Lord to impact someone else for Christ within the endurance community. Here the answers where more what I expected: personal modeling, sharing Jesus, and fellowship. However, gear popped in as a tie for third. Again, it is creating opportunities and opening doors!

Last, we asked where you needed help in becoming more effective at impacting others for Jesus within the endurance community. I was blessed to see the Lord affirm our Unite & Equip strategies. The top choice by far was ministry training. Two, three, and five had to do with local fellowship, usually Huddle-based. Four was increased ministry resources, and six was a deeper personal walk with the Lord (or resources to help with this).
While we will continue to prayerfully process these results, here are some immediate conclusions that I’ve taken away:

1.  There is a need for the Endurance Ministry Institute (EMI), and we will continue to train endurance athletes to be more effective at impacting the endurance community for Christ. The next training will take place in Phoenix later this month, and we would love to have you!

2.  Huddles and the fellowship they provide are important for impact, and they are desired by our Teammates. We are so thankful that Steve White has come on staff to focus all his energies on Huddle ministry, and we can’t wait to see how this impacts the endurance world as the endurance church becomes more united.

3.  Events and gear are extremely important at impacting people, and based on this survey, most of us may be unaware of the impact we’re having through these vehicles (significant difference between questions 2, 3, and 4). We need to be diligent at ministering through these opportunities, as well as capitalizing on these opportunities through effective ministry training (EMI) and plugging people in after events for long-term Christian growth (the local church and Huddles).

We will continue to prayerfully process these results as we move our ministry forward under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As we do this, I seek your prayers, for our ministry and those charged with serving within it. Lastly, I invite all of you to check out the Impact Survey Summary Results posted under resources on the The Body.

For God’s Glory,
Chris

For God’s Glory,
Chris

As we read the Bible, it is clear that spiritual growth is expected. We see Paul urging disciples to not just receive the basics of the faith and stop, but to continue growing in the Lord. “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” (Phil 1:9-10). The writer of Hebrews even rebukes those who seem content to stop growing, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food...” (Heb. 5:12-14). Other passages also reiterate that our growth should be ongoing to full maturity. [1]

As I have read these passages in the past, at times I have subconsciously assumed that they meant I should pursue those things that are deeper, “advanced,” unknown, and perhaps even controversial. Somehow I could (or should?) grow past John 3:16 and “Jesus loves me this I know…” becoming a “theologian” of sorts (perhaps being a bit unsure of what that even meant). This is not to suggest that I didn’t care about or highly value these “basics,” but that I was perhaps pursuing something beyond them in the name of growth. Recently, however, I have seen my error in this.

As I consider my desired spiritual growth in 2012, I want to stress that it will focus on Jesus and His Gospel. I simply cannot attempt to move beyond Him, as if there were anything richer, deeper, or more fulfilling. I love how Packer and Parrett put it, “We believe, rather, that it is imperative to think of moving on from the “milk” of the Gospel to the “meat” of the Gospel.” [2] Oh, how I pray that in 2012 I may grow in the depth of understanding of the "meat" of the Gospel of Jesus. I pray for the Holy Spirit to continue His transforming work in my life, demonstrated through Spiritual fruit and a life of faithful obedience. And I pray that I may have the heart and courage to share Jesus with any many as I can. I pray the same is true for you.

“For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).

Happy New Year’s... For His Glory!

Chris

[1] Verses include: 1 Cor. 3:1-2, Eph. 4:13-14, Phil. 1:25, Phil. 3:12, 15, Col. 2:2-6, 1 Tim. 4:7, Heb. 6:1, 1 Peter 1:5, and 2 Peter 3:18.

[2] J.I. Packer and Gary Parrett, Grounded in the Gospel (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2010), 96.

God has placed a desire on my heart for many years to be involved with ministry. I have enjoyed always being involved in some form or fashion as a volunteer in ministry. Since being involved with FCA Endurance, my desire is to be involved more and more in ministry - investing in relationships that ultimately point others to the truth and power of a relationship with Jesus Christ. As Paul states, not that I have obtained all this - not that I have any clue about how full time ministry works - but one thing I know that I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

For the past year or so, I had a little quote hanging up at my desk of my prior job. I do not know the author but here it is:

"Don't waste your life in a job that doesn't express your heart. Remember the greatest things in life are not things. Meaning is far more important than money.  The richest man in the world once said, "A simple life in the fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches." Aim .. for "the better life" - serving God in a way that expresses your heart. Figure out what you love to do - what God gave you a heart to do - then do it for His Glory."

So here I am, seeking to serve God and bring Him glory in a way that expresses my heart. Relationships! As you know, FCAE gives us an amazing opportunity to invest in others and build relationships from reading scripture together with a Teammate or talking with a complete stranger at the end of a race.

If you have read to this point, it is for you that I serve. My true hearts desire is that others will find the beauty of the relationship with Christ. It is also a strong desire that you will grow even deeper in your walk with God. Our daily relationship with God and our relationship with others.

Thank you for your prayers and support as my wife and I now walk this new paths for our lives! i hope to meet as many of you as I can in the upcoming years of ministry.

Your servant,
Steve White

The FCA Endurance National Leadership Board is excited to announce the staff candidacy of Steve White for our new Ministry Coordinator position. Steve is beginning the process of seeking the Lord; in partnership with Chris Anderson (National Director), Joe Dannelly (Ministry Coordinator – Online Ministries), and the National Leadership Board; for the funding necessary to come on staff with FCA full-time, prayerfully starting by January 1, 2012. In his proposed role, Steve’s primary responsibility will be serving within FCA Endurance’s adult Huddle ministry.

While we are excited and thankful to make this announcement, it is a significant leap of faith for our ministry in terms of our ministry budget. Adding a second full-time staff member will require an increase in our yearly budget of approximately $56,000 (salary, benefits, taxes, fees, office expenses, travel, etc.). While this is a large increase, we have seen the Lord’s faithfulness over the years andmove forwardwith a humble expectation that the Lord will provide through His people.

With that said, we prayerfully invite each member of our ministry to prayerfully consider a gift to help meet this need, getting Steve on staff as quickly as possible in an effort to help increase our ministry’s effectiveness through Huddles! Gifts can be made through our site or sent in via check to our national office: http://fcaendurance.com/donate

About Steve

Steve White has been a FCA Endurance Teammate since March of 2009 and was called to start the Savannah, GA Huddle shortly after that in April of 2009. Since that time, the Lord has moved through Steve, his wife of four and a half years Leigh, and the Savannah Huddle leadership team to have a significant impact on that community and the surrounding area. The Savannah Huddle has organized a number of endurance ministry outreaches and races in the past two years and hosted an EMI retreat in the spring of 2010. They are hosting a second EMI retreat next week.

Steve has been working vocationally as an aviation training instructor with Gulfstream for the past eleven years, but he has practically been an unpaid FCA staff member for quite some time, serving and leading the Savannah Huddle. His demonstrated commitment and experience within FCA Endurance Huddles, as well as the Lord’s favor regarding his service make him a great fit for this role of serving other Huddle Leaders. Steve also has years of training and experience as a lay church small group leader and coordinator, and has helped organize two international mission trips.

About the Position/Need

As a ministry, we continue to feel that our Huddles (local chapters) strategically provide the best opportunity to impact an endurance community and its members for Jesus Christ. Through Huddles, our members have the best opportunity to partner in ministry, experience unity and equipping, and develop the depth of relationship needed to most-effectively invite other members of their endurance community to a deeper relationship with Jesus. Because we feel that Huddles are such a significant part of accomplishing our mission, we are very excited to add a staff member dedicated to serving this component of our ministry.

Steve’s role within FCA Endurance will be primarily helping develop and implement the Huddle components of the FCA Endurance National Strategic Plan. A significant part of this plan and Steve’s role will be serving our current and future volunteer Huddle Leaders from around the country, and perhaps soon, world.

Thank you for your prayers, support, and partnership in ministry! This is truly a day to celebrate the Lord’s goodness!
For His Glory,
Chris

While I would certainly celebrate any athlete who demonstrated this kind of love and service on race day, I have a question: “Was the Gospel presented?” Honestly, if a by-stander was able to see you do all of the above, assuming they were inspired by your demonstrated kindness, would they come up with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ? Would your actions and attitudes lead them to conclude on their own that there was a God, that they were separated from Him due to their sin, that God sent His Son Jesus to earth to die on a cross to restore their relationship with Him, and that they needed to repent and believe in Him to receive this gift of eternal life?

While the heavens declare God’s glory (Ps. 19:1), I’m not convinced the actions mentioned above lead to a personal understanding of the Gospel. Why? It needs to be proclaimed to be understood and responded to (Rom 10:14-17). People just don’t get there on their own after seeing kindness and sacrifice.

And so my title question, “Are you good enough?” Are your actions good enough that the Gospel is explained through them? For me, and perhaps for you, the answer is, "no." I simply can’t be good enough so that my actions alone clearly and completely tell Jesus’ story. Actions and words are necessary to explain the Gospel and give people a chance to respond to the good news.

And so, my encouragement… please radically demonstrate Jesus’ love through sacrifice and kindness, perhaps by doing some of the ideas listed above. However, be ready and willing to share Jesus verbally, even when it’s uncomfortable. This is what’s required to clearly communicate with others the lifesaving message of the Bible.

Two quick last points… First, I do understand the value and often necessity of relationship building before people are ready to hear and respond to the Gospel. And so, all of the above needs to be done as the Holy Spirit prompts, in His time. He is after all responsible for the results of our sharing. The point of this article is not to encourage skipping this, but to simply point out that, at some point, words are needed. Be ready and be willing to share!

Secondly, we would love to help equip you for this! Please check the EMI Page (www.fcaendurance.org/emi) of our site and our new online Gospel presentation at www.whydoyourace.com for help. We’ve also got an equipping retreat planned in MN this fall, and we would love to have you join us. Get equipped… there’s no excuse not to!

Special thanks to Chris Anderson for writing this article. It's a featured article on TheBody.

My route took me through town to the start of a old railroad that had been paved as a multi use trail. From there it followed the old tracks out to the country, around in the rolling hills and back the way I came. The whole way out the tracks and into the hills I was feeling great. In fact, I was feeling better than great. It was still early in the season and I hadn't been riding very much, so I was feeling unusually strong.

And then it happened. About and hour into the ride I made the first turn to start heading home and felt an uneasy crosswind. "No. Surely not." I thought. "Have I been riding with a tailwind this whole time?" Within minutes I was riding my bike into a serious headwind; the kind of wind that almost brings you to a stop—even on the downhills. "This is awful!" I thought.

The next 10 miles of the trail home I spent absolutely frustrated. I felt like I was pedaling twice as hard to move half as fast. I wasn't even sure I still wanted to be on the bike; and because I was so frustrated, I wasn't even using the time to focus on God's presence anymore.

Finally at the end of the trail in downtown—only a few miles from home—God revealed that He had been speaking the whole time in a way that I don't think I'll ever forget: through a gentle wind at my back. It was as if everything He said came at once and it took me the rest of the ride home to keep pulling back the layers.

"Every single time you get on that bike, you'll be faced with two kinds of wind: the joy of a tailwind, or the battle of a headwind." The same rings true with my spiritual walk. Every day I wake up, God is going to be there and I get the opportunity to experience Him. The most crucial thing for me to remember is that my joy in experiencing God exists not just in a time of blessing, but in a headwind as well. The presence of struggle or suffering is not an absence of God, it's a time to reflect on the fact that He's even more present! At the end of the day, I know that If I want to be a better rider I have to seek joy in the fact that working harder will make me stronger the next time.

Sometimes the wind may be a gentle breeze or a gale force. Sometimes it will be the blessing to keep pushing me forward, the headwind to stop me in my tracks. Only one constant remains: the wind is going to be there and I will experience it. How I respond to it is up to me. Will I praise Him in the times of incredible blessing when it's easy to forget or take it for granted? Will I praise Him even when I have to suffer? Will I have the motivation to get up everyday and get out there just to experience him no matter what that means?

What are the current tailwinds or blessings that you're might be overlooking right now?

What is the headwind that you're facing right now where God is trying to strengthen you?

What motivates you to experience Him everyday?

It really wasn't a hard decision. Ever since my best friend told me in 1993 that his two-year-old son had a life-threatening disease, I'd wanted to do something. A couple years before that, I was there, celebrating with my best friend after the birth of his son. We were both 23 years old. His baby boy was the coolest thing since our High School days. As the years went by, I saw the effects of Alport Syndrome degrading his hearing, growing, and endurance; but what a great kid. He called me "Uncle Troy" and each time I raced the Hawaii Ironman, he came with his parents to watch me.

Bobby's parents spent a lot of quality time with him. They knew his time with them was uncertain. In 2009, his kidneys were failing him. His dad told me that he needed a transplant and they had been looking but no family members were possible candidates. Immediately it all became clear. I never knew it was a kidney disease and that it would disappear with a new kidney. I felt like the Lord was unveiling this opportunity and telling me "you were always unsure how to help; I've made it easy for you now."

Right away, my wife and I prayed about it and the possible effects on our two precious little girls. I could save my kidneys for a daughter. But I had never met a kidney donor, so I, too, would most likely finish life holding on to both kidneys. Here was an opportunity to give to someone in need. But if I donated, I could suffer ill health. I could even die.

In the midst of making such a big decision, the most important thing was what God was putting on our hearts: You can't really experience the blessings that come with having faith unless you do something requiring faith. And that "no greater love is shown than when a man lays down his life for a friend" (John 15:13).

My wife was fully supportive and I immediately began testing for a match. There are many factors to being a good match besides blood type, but—thanks be to God—I was a perfect candidate. There were still close friends and family members who wanted us to reconsider; even triathletes who told me I could forget about doing Ironmans again. But one day my doctor put me in touch with another donor. He was an ultra-cyclist and he was riding as well as ever and enjoying life since giving his kidney.

In July, 2009, I went for a morning run before Bobby and I, along with our families, met at the transplant hospital. He was just out of High School, his kidney function was now down to almost zero, and EPO was the only thing giving him enough red blood cells to stay alive. Yet he was the polite, cheerful kid I always knew. Bobby knew God would take care of him. We all prayed and I felt completely at peace and appreciative to have this opportunity.

The surgeries were successful and immediately Bobby's complexion starting showing color for first time in years as the new kidney helped restore his blood. Eighteen-year-old Bobby recovered faster than anyone expected, and in about a month we were both able to jog.

I had some difficulties during recovery but soon was back to biking and running with a goal of Wildflower in eight months. In fact, I was on my way to better health because of things I learned through the exhaustive tests they do during candidate selection. They found a hernia and fixed it and they found a blot clotting abnormality which meant I needed to stay active—an encouragement to continue as a triathlete.

Last year I completed the Wildflower Long Course with one kidney operating at the capacity of two. Bobby grew 3" since surgery, started college, was down to 2 medications, and could now do strenuous activity. The whole ordeal has been such a great blessing. I feel like I've lost nothing and gained everything. For this, I thank my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is faithful and knows what really brings me joy. Yes, I will be able to endure the heat and hills of Wildflower, because through Him all things are possible.

READY:
“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
-Luke 9:23

SET:
I was training for a marathon—the beautiful, romantic, epic Paris Marathon. But, because I am a follower of Jesus, each morning begins with God, reading His Word and seeking His heart for the day. From there, I head off to work, where I run on my lunch breaks and then do my long runs on Saturdays.
After Christ, my family is the second-most important thing in my life. Normally I train with my wife, and we relish the time together. This time around, however, my training was going far better than I’d dreamed!

It all started when I ran six miles at an 8-minute-per-mile pace, which is fast for me. Because my wife wasn’t at that pace, I began to run alone. Soon I bested the 8’s and changed my goal to 7:30’s. Not long, and I started targeting 7’s even though I struggled to be at my 100-percent best at work in the afternoons.

Then, one morning, God blatantly switched on the light for me. My wife and I had always adjusted our training plans so that we would rest on Sundays. However, because I hadn’t run the day before this week, I was planning to knock out a long run before church. But, as I sat before Him, the long run looming, He showed me clearly through the book of Judges what had happened.

The Lord was no longer the center of my everyday decisions; my running was. Instead of adjusting my day to Him, I was adjusting my day to my sport. Running had become my idol.

Immediately I quit training. I didn’t quit running, but I chose to start running with my wife again, to work out a little less hard so I could retain sufficient energy to glorify God at work again.

Wouldn’t you know it, God smiled on that decision! Now, my runs are slower, but better. The compulsion to train has been replaced by the freedom to participate in what God’s doing here and now. I love what songwriter Rich Mullins wrote: “Love is bound in the things that we have given up, more than in the things that we have kept.” For me, it seems that God is more pleased in this marathon not run.

Today, I hope you will check your own heart regarding training and evaluate if your sport has become your idol. If so, ask God what needs to happen in order for you to get back on His path—one that is full of surrender, but full of His blessings.

GO:
1. Is God more glorified and honored by our success or our attitude regardless of the results?
2. Are you willing to let God determine the outcome of your training? If so, how can you give Him the freedom to determine that outcome, yet still glorify Him?
3. Why do you compete?

WORKOUT:
Matthew 16:24-27
Matthew 19:16-30
Luke 9:23-25
Luke 18:18-30

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Slick Douglass and his wife, Donna, are habitual endurance athletes and FCA Endurance teammates, currently training to be missionary pilots in Africa. Visit www.donnadouglass.com.

After his initial conversation with Debbie, Gary started to notice a change in his life. “I found myself starting to pray to God, which I hadn’t done for so many years. I asked Him to forgive my multitude of sins that I had committed in my life. I had not gone to church for almost 50 years, and only a few times in those years did I say a couple of prayers.” Despite being retired and living in financial abundance, Gary still felt as though something was missing in his life. “I was now retired, able to manage financially and my life seemed to be just cruising along fine, but I felt that void. I started praying that night, and I told God that I was sorry I had avoided Him for so long but I wanted to start all over again.” Gary could feel God moving in his heart, so he told Debbie he would attend IronPrayer the weekend of the race.

IronPrayer impacted Gary in incredible ways, and he was able to experience God’s grace and love with a group of believers for the first time in decades. “I was surrounded and holding hands with a group of strangers that I did not know, but I felt such a goodness emanating from the group. As we prayed together, I felt this kind of presence inside me that I had never felt before, and I left there feeling humbled to have been able to take part in prayer and listening to testimonies.” After IronPrayer, Gary approached his race in a new way. “I found myself praying to God during the race.” Gary’s prayers were answered, as he was able to complete his first Ironman race without pain. “I never experienced cramps and was able to run strong the whole way. God had looked after me and I felt elated.”

After the race, Gary decided that the purpose for his racing simply had to change. “I was racing for myself, hoping for medals and trophies,” Gary said, “It was only after submitting myself to God prior to the IM Arizona that I changed my attitude about my sport.” Gary realized that, as a follower of Jesus, he was called to compete for Christ rather than his own glory. “The FCA-E creed helped me take the focus off myself and redirect it toward Jesus. I don’t care about medals and winning anymore, I just race every race with Him and am thankful with any results that come my way.”

Since Gary accepted Christ, he has experienced a lot of changes in his life. “I have joined a church with a great bunch of Christian friends, and I now have accountability in my spiritual life. I pray and praise the Lord every night, and I read the Bible on a daily basis. I have great faith in the Lord now, even when I don’t understand certain things.” Gary has also noticed that his relationship with Jesus is starting to impact others around him. “My wife has now joined me in the Christian faith, and guess what? I’ve got a couple of people I’m working on also. If successful, they might keep going and spread the word and help other people too!” Because someone took the initiative to invite Gary to IronPrayer, his entire life was changed, and he is now helping to further God’s kingdom in Canada. “Never underestimate the power of a few kind words or actions,” Gary said, “you might be starting a whole chain of events that will draw other people to God.”

In the triathlon world, the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, is the ultimate achievement. For Katy Rosane, that personal achievement turned into a time to allow God to move in ways she never thought possible in order to influence countless people and show them God’s love.

Katy qualified for Kona in May, and she instantly felt like God would use the race to show out in a unique way. “When I qualified for World Championships again, I really felt like God wanted me to do something to glorify Him.” Not knowing exactly what God had in store, Katy continued to race and train in preparation for the big event; but she encountered a serious trial just a few months before race day: a stress fracture in her foot. “I was down doing the Portland triathlon when it really flared up, but I had no idea it was a stress fracture!”

Because of the stress fracture, Katy was forced to resort to unique—and far less favorable—training methods to stay in shape for Kona. “I was biking with a winter clog and a cage for my broken foot and made up a contraption so I could swim. And I did a lot of aqua jogging!” Just two weeks before the race, Katy received x-rays indicating that the fracture was not displaced, so she was determined to participate regardless of the pain. “Most people would just say ‘your foot is hurt, don’t race,’ but this is Kona, the big one, and I really, really felt that God wanted me here for a reason. I had to try and I wasn’t sure what would happen but I prayed that God would use this for His glory.”

On the day of the race, Katy decided to wear a t-shirt that said “I CAN” on the front and “Philippians 4:13” on the back, and God used something as simple as a piece of clothing to make an impact in the racing community. “So many people read my shirt and saw my condition of having one shoe and one foot cast, and they shouted ‘yes you can’ and ‘nice verse!’ I walked down one section and the whole street went into a roar when they saw me. Then, other racers came along and told me how encouraged they were by the Bible verse. Many racers stopped and walked with me and I got to tell them how awesome God was and that He was my strength!”

As Katy finished the 2010 Kona World Championships, she understood why God wanted her to race that day. “I just got an overwhelming sense of peace and realized that God truly used this mishap to let me shine His light for others to see Him. It was better than anything I could have ever orchestrated!” Looking back on the race, Katy can say with certainty that it was far better to trust in God and His plans rather than her own desires and ambitions. “Got taught me to trust Him and listen! That prompted my wearing the shirt. It wasn’t me, I never would’ve considered it. But He used it and got scripture recited on NBC! That is cool!”

Though participating in Kona is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that many of us will never experience, we as Christian athletes can use endurance sports to shine God’s light within every aspect of our training and racing. “I think FCA-E could impact the triathlon world by giving athletes a real purpose, not just for racing, but for living,” Katy said. “It’s pretty amazing how many people I have met who put their whole identity into what they do or how they perform, and that is so unsatisfying.” Much like Katy allowed God to use her in an incredible way at Kona, we as Christian athletes need to be willing to let God move in our lives and direct our course of action, even if His ways don’t make sense to us. Who knows…He might just surprise us!

READY:

“…for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
-1 Timothy 4:8

SET:

Many athletes, myself included, keep a journal or log of their workouts. This allows us to set goals and track our times, distances, results, resting heart rate, etc. From this journal, we can see how we’re progressing (or not) and adjust accordingly. It is a valuable tool for training, race preparation, or other goals we’re trying to achieve.
With the start of this new year, I started a new workout log. As I finished my old one, I looked back on the workouts that had been done in 2010. I found myself asking questions like, “Could I have done more in preparation for such and such a race?” or “Could I have committed myself more during the first week of June?” I also thought about the amount of time I’d committed to my workouts and the time I’d invested even in just filling out the log itself. But there was also a bigger question that came to my mind. How much time had I committed to God throughout the year? Had I approached my daily time with Him with as much enthusiasm as I had my physical training?

My body tells me things throughout the year. If it’s telling me I’m working too hard, I listen to it. If my times aren’t where they need to be, I adjust my workouts accordingly. So, why don’t I always do the same with my relationship with God? Why don’t I listen to Him when He’s talking to me? Do I place more emphasis on something that is temporary (i.e. my earthly body) than on my spiritual training? Yes, I start my day reading God’s Word, and I do talk to Him throughout the day, but I don’t always evaluate how I’m doing in my relationship with Him. I don’t always evaluate my spiritual training to the extent I do my physical training.

This year, I will continue to evaluate my workouts in relation to my performance, but I hope to focus on bigger questions like, “Are you giving your best to God?” “Is your relationship growing because of the time you spend with Him?” “How is your spiritual training benefiting your relationship with others?” And at the end of 2011, I pray that the spiritual training log will be filled with many great workouts.

GO:

1. Has the amount of time you commit to spiritual training been as important as the time you commit to your physical training? If not, how and what can you do to change that?
2. Do you evaluate and reflect on your spiritual training and how it affects your life and the lives of others?

WORKOUT:

Matthew 7:23-25 (NIV)
1 Timothy 4:7-9 (NIV)

Paul Sienkiewicz is a teammate and an FCA Endurance Huddle Leader in Central Pennsylvania. Thanks Paul!

Have you ever thought that FCA Endurance may just be bigger than endurance sports? If so, you are not alone. It is and has been true for my life. A group of teammates in Minnesota and I are going through R12 Coach1, a guided pathway through Romans chapter 12. The course contains a workbook with questions. Questions 5 and 6 of the first session ask:"Over the course of your Christian life, who or what has had the most impact on your spiritual growth" and "How would you describe your spiritual growth over the last 5 years." My answer to both of these has to do a lot with FCA Endurance.

My spiritual growth over the last 5 years (really since 2009, which is when God presented FCA Endurance to me) has been like a rocket ship to the moon. Prior to God presenting FCA Endurance to me, I was a believer, but I may have been what Francis Chan refers to as a "lukewarm" Christian in his book Crazy Love, or not quite the "authentic Christian" that Bill Hybels describes in his book Just Walk Across the Room.FCA Endurance was the launching pad for me go from being a lukewarm Christian to trying to be a boiling hot, crazy love, authentic Christian...and I'm not just talking through ministry in endurance sports, or as the huddle leader for Minnesota.

Rather, I'm talking about how FCA Endurance opened doors for me and put me in contact with believers that shared a passion. This led to great friendships, which then led to people challenging me and holding me accountable. This led to me diving into the Word every day, praying every day, being more in tune to what God wants for me, how to live for His glory, how to listen to Him, how to be obedient to Him. That all led to further callings.
For example, by being more in tune with God, I was able to hear God call me to be a witness for Him at where I work. God later confirmed that calling by having 6 people come into my office one day and ask me about FCA Endurance, my religion, etc. Obviously, being a witness for Christ at my employer has nothing to do with endurance sports, but I don't think I would have ever heard that call if I didn't pick up on what God was putting in front of me at the Apple Duathlon in 2009. God put FCA Endurance in front of me at that race, calling me to get involved.

FCA Endurance has led me to pray and listen to God, directing and guiding my life for His glory. As Isaiah said, "Here am I. Send Me" (Isa 6:8). God has a lot in store for me and used FCA Endurance as the launching pad to get my attention. I know I'm not the only one. I've seen teammates grow in the Lord through FCA Endurance. It’s reenergized them. They are not just going through the routine of going to Church on Sundays, they are active - active in their church, in FCA Endurance, in their community and are truly working to giving God the glory. The FCA Endurance ministry is incredible and goes beyond endurance!

1. Information on R12 Coach can be found here: http://www.r12coach.com/ This program is available to all huddles. If you are interested in going through this discipleship material, please contact your Huddle Leader.