Secrets to Running and Spiritual Success

"Top Runners Share Their Secrets to Running Success!"

"How to Become a World-Class Marathoner - by the World's Best Distance Running Coaches"

Eye-popping, attention-grabbing lines like these invariably find their ways onto covers of running and fitness magazines.  The premise seems simple enough - follow the advice to the letter, and you'll become a better, faster runner.  A typical list contains plenty of common-sense and "no duh" items, like:

1) Get enough sleep.

2) Lose some weight if you're fat.

3) Watch what you're eating - forget that double bacon cheeseburger and beer.

4) Start slow and gradually go faster and longer.

5) Don't run if you're sick.

6) Don't run if you're hurt, say, like you developed a stress fracture.

7) Don't get sick and don't get hurt, and you'll improve faster.

8) You got to run fast if you want to run fast.

9) Cut back if you overtrained and are worn out.

10) Follow the 24-week, 150 mile-per-week training plan on page 89 (the one this world-class coach used to help his world-class athlete break the world record).

So far, so good.  Maybe not the 150 mpw elite training plan yet, otherwise I'd get sick, hurt, overtrained and worn out, which will in turn cause me to overeat and get fat while recovering.

Unfortunately, the list doesn't end there.  There's always one that's beyond my reach:

11) Chose your parents wisely.

Ugh, the list guy is mocking me!  I can try to do everything right, but unless I have the proper genetic endowment, I will still be eating the dust of someone who doesn't train as hard as me but somehow inherited a lion's share of his gazelle-chasing ancestors' running genes.  As for my share, my mother has been complaining that her feet hurt most of her life, and my father used to be the president of a jogging club...not "running" club, but JOGGING club, and the emphasis was on club and not on jogging.  I have short legs.  I guess there are some "choices" that aren't for me to make.

In contrast, it seems much easier to become a Christian.  In Acts 2, the apostle Peter gave the first evangelistic sermon in history, and when the people were "cut to the heart" and asked what they needed to do, the answer was quite straightforward:

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

About three thousand people became Christians that day.

Later, when the jailer in Phillipi asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved, the answer was simply:

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." (Acts 16:31)

Unfortunately, innumerable millions of people have heard these "quick and easy" tips to receive the assurance of salvation, but the words failed to move them.  There is yet one more essential ingredient that Jesus revealed during his famous conversation with Nicodemus:

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."  (John 3:3)

Jesus, of course, was speaking of a spiritual, not physical rebirth.  The problem with being born is that you can't decide whether you will be born, when you want to be born, or where you are going to be born.  It is completely out of our control.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit, without which the words of the Gospel has no effect.  Our decision to believe in Jesus is possible only after God regenerates us spiritually.

I am eternally grateful that I was "born again".  Too bad my legs are still short.

Eat Your Vegetables!

“You know, one of the best ways to lose weight is to eat lots of vegetables, especially at the beginning of the meal...”

Those were my words as I counseled a morbidly obese boy and his mother in the examination room. The child was referred to see me because his blood tests showed very abnormal results that suggested liver damage and possible early signs of type II diabetes, and it was clear that his life would likely be dramatically shortened unless he reversed his seemingly accelerating trend of weight gain. I asked the child whether he liked to eat vegetables. He shrugged. His mother seemed a bit embarrassed, and said that she rarely gave him veggies because he wouldn't eat them.

“OK, let's play a little game. I want you to name for me a few vegetables right off your head. It can even be something that you hate to eat. See if you can name at least five. Ready? Go!”

The boy was in fourth grade, so I figured that he'd at least come up with a few common ones. I've asked this question to many other children, and most would include carrots and broccoli among the first three or four answers. I couldn't believe what I heard.

“Bananas?”

“No, that's a fruit. You know what vegetables are, right? Try again.”

“Apples?”

“OK, think about stuff that's in a salad. There are vegetables in your salad. Name me a vegetable that you'd find in a salad.”

“Cheese?”

“No. You're kidding, right?” I was starting to feel a bit frustrated, and the mother's face was turning red.

“Chicken?”

“Hmm, I bet that if I ask you to name five different kinds of hamburgers at fast food restaurants, like the Big Mac and the Whopper, you'd have no trouble.”

Something I said about hamburgers finally got him thinking, and miraculously, he started to rattle off names of vegetables...

“Lettuce? Tomatoes?...”

Great. At least he recognized that there were veggies in some hamburgers.

“...Pickles?”

Ugh.

Many of us are picky eaters or parents of picky eaters. It matters little whether the health authorities tout the benefits of eating a variety of foods for their nutritional values, as most of our eating habits and preferences have developed at an early age, and are difficult to change. Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush (the senior President Bush) openly declared that he did not like to eat broccoli, and that as president of the United States, he had the right to dislike broccoli. I don't like eggplants. However, I'd eat eggplants if someone serves them to me. Other than that, I can't think of any particular vegetable that I really will not eat, though I definitely like some better than others. Right now I'm craving a big bowl of kabocha with ginger and some stir-fried chayote. Yummy.

In the same way, Christians often treat God's word like they treat food. Some love to read the New Testament, but can't stand the Old Testament. Many cling to verses about God's love for us, but would rather not know about his justice and judgment. Some love to read about end-time prophecies, while others fear them. I have read every word of the Bible several times over many years, but I admit that there are some passages that I relish much more than others, and that I have made little effort to understand the latter parts of the Old Testament. However, just as I advised that the obese child eat his vegetables, the Bible also teaches us not to be picky about God's word, for,

“All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Let's play another game...how many Old Testament prophets can you name?