RUNNING WITH GOD

"Pain is GOD's megaphone. He whispers to us in our pleasure, but he shouts to us in our pain." C. S. Lewis


Rarely do we have a moment in our lives that we truly feel the touch of GOD. Some people go their whole lives without experiencing it. I, too, had never experienced it. You know GOD is there and you know His existence. I do, anyway; if you are a non-believer please indulge me. I have been a Christian since my early twenties, though not a very good one. The last few years of my life my walk with Christ has become stronger each day. I will never be the Christian I strive to be, GOD loves me none the less. It will be a glorious and wonderful journey. I'm not sure why I want to share this testimonial with you, it just feels like the right thing to do. So for all of my running friends reading this, it will come back to running. For all of my conservative followers out there I know you will understand. So here it goes!

Over the past few years with the recession we have struggled, cutting it very close one too many times. My business, being an extravagant extra, is the first cut in any household budget. So in 2007 the cuts started and we persevered. Though times were a little tough, Paula and I still continued to do our part with local charities. The Touched by Cancer Foundation and The Gillis Center were both encompassed in our Runners In Touch programs. We have a tremendous group of local runners who have helped out with these charities immensely. It is a joke between Paula and I that one day I will do something that will make money instead of give my time away. :)

This past year has been a blessing and a struggle. Isagenix (no this isn't a commercial) came into our lives and has helped financially and of course improved our health even though we thought we were healthy. Then I decided I wanted to start a running program for the kids at Gillis, which Paula was all for. She is an unbelievable partner in life and very tolerant of me. She always encourages me to follow through with my lofty ideas and my need to help others. Yes, it is a need that has always been with me in different ways. The last ten years it has been through charities that I have fulfilled this need. Anyway, about three months ago I reached a point of frustration; I was just tired of struggling. I told Paula I was going to get a night job to make things a little less stressful. She would have no part of that. She said it would take away from our family time and that I love what I do and we should have faith that GOD would provide. So I did as she asked and continued in faith. Now most of you out there KNOW that the average spouse would want the extra income. I don't say that to be mean, it is just the society we have become. I guess that is one of the many reasons our friends call her "Saint Paula," the main reason is that she puts up with me. :)

At the same time this was going on I was contacted by City Union Mission in KC. I had contacted them during Christmas of last year to see if I could help out in any way. I sent my resume and asked if they needed anyone like me to help with anything. I met with a couple of the directors there and we talked about me being the Volunteer Fitness and Nutrition Instructor for the men's 12-month program. I toured the facilities and talked with the staff and just felt I was supposed to be there. I told them that I would have to run it by Paula and pray about it over the weekend and I would contact them the next week. I called Paula on my way home and she could tell I was excited about the possibility of helping out at City Union Mission. I explained to her the situation and told her we would talk about it more this weekend. She asked,"What's is there to talk about? You obviously are excited to do this and feel GOD is leading you, so just do it." Don't you just love her! I said let's not jump too fast. We will pray on it and talk about it over the weekend. I really should always just listen to her. :)

We went to church that Sunday and wouldn't you know it Pastor Ron's message that day was sharing your GOD given gifts with other people! Of course, there was much more to it as he always has a wonderful message that inspires us every week! That was the meat of the message this day. Well, I can't really explain it but I will try. Something came over me at the end of the message and I was an emotional basket case. I wept like a little girl! GOD was talking to me in a big way. Not only did he open my eyes to the fact that Paula was right, there wasn't anything to talk about, but most importantly he reminded me of how blessed I am to have a wife like Paula who would sacrifice and forgo extra income and at the same time insist that I follow my heart and give time to strangers because I thought it was GOD's calling. Not only did I weep, but I was sweating like a Liberal in church. Sorry, that was for my conservative followers. :) This went on for about 15 minutes. A couple we know very casually came over and prayed with us and talked me through this menopausal moment. After I had calmed down a little my warped sense of humor kicked in. I must share and apologize ahead of time. I told Paula I was a menopausal bitch and that I need to go get in a fight to get some testosterone flowing through me. Her response was how could I talk so foul after have such a wonderful spiritual moment. I told her that is just who I am! :) The best part is, she loves me anyway and so does Jesus!

What does this have to do with running? My running is what opened my heart to give, starting with Team In Training. It has progressed over the years and I know it will continue until I can run no more. I only hope that other runners find a way to give back for all the wondeful funfilled miles they have covered. :)

Choose to Succeed
Koach Karl
http://www.koachkarl.com/

BP ISN'T A VILLAIN. ARE YOU?!

We are approaching 50 days of captivity by oil!! Yes the oil and oil companies, BP is the main villain, are holding us hostage. If you were an alien, from another planet not the illegal kind:),you would think that oil and oil companies were in cahoots with DR. Evil and they were going to destroy the world. If you talk to some of the eviro-wackos that is what they would tell you. Do they believe it? I really don't think so. I think and have always thought that the eviromental movement is nothing more than a control issue. The commies failed, socialism fails all over the world, though someone should tell Obama, the left is always looking for a way to control us lowly commoners. Since they can't do it through the proper way of elections and legislation then they will guilt you and lie to you about about how YOU are destroying the planet by driving a car, flushing your toilet, eating meat, using paper, breathing...... Unfortunately as I have mentioned before a lot of people with good intentions have jumped on the "save the planet" band wagon and doing what they can to do just that. I don't have a problem with an individual living like that, just don't try and tell me how to live. The main preachers of this religion, yes it is a religion, are hypocrites!! They fly around in their jets, drive in their limos, live in houses that use more energy in a month than most do in a year and tell us commoners to conserve. I DO have a problem with that. I won't go into "Climate Gate" and how most of their data is manufactured and it is all a crock of shit......

Lets talk about the dreaded oil rig explosion and the damage it is doing and how all BP employees and their children and grandchildren should all be shot and killed for this atrocity. I am an advocate of drilling and know if we would use our(USA) recourses we wouldn't be dependant on foreign oil. All of you whining and moaning about BP and "big" oil need to make a statement and stand up to "The Man" so stop driving your car, stop using anything that has oil in it. Such as: toothpaste, movie film, contact lenses, haircurlers, shaving cream, sunglasses, telephones, .... the list goes on and on. So before you jump up on your organic soapbox make sure you have your life in order. Until then shut up and get your facts straight!!

This was an accident there is NO guilty party. Not even Bush had anything to do with this. I don't even blame our pathetic president for it. It was an accident!! There is no villain!! Now if BP refuses to do what is necessary to clean it up then you can whine and moan a little about them. BP is a company that provides a service and commodity to all of us. They provide jobs for thousands, which in turn stimulates the economy. That's right they put money into the economy by paying people wages. Unlike the "stimulus" passed by our current administration that does nothing but grow the government. Which costs tax payers. YOU AND ME!!!!.
The ocean floor excretes thousands of gallons a of oil everyday and it is filtered by nature. This will be cleaned up and don't worry BP will pay a price. Of course Obama sent lawyers down to look a ways to sue BP so when they pay for the clean up and all the law suits they might be out of business. What does that mean? No more jobs, no more wages, no more contributing to our economy. So be careful what you wish for when it comes to BP. Personally I hope they clean this mess up and bounce back with a great year in 2011.
DRILL BABY DRILL!!
Choose to Succeed
Koach Karl
http://www.koachkarl.com/