What's Next?

I skated this morning for the second time since the St. Paul Marathon. What can I say? I love inline skating. I am so happy when I skate. I am not finished skating and so I look forward to what's next in my inline endeavors?

Wouldn't it be great to skate in all ten of the top inline marathons in the country? Ideally it is a long range dream I would like to achieve.

The North Shore Marathon is next month but it falls on the same weekend as a very important marriage retreat my wife (who else?) and I attend. This is a huge race and fast. I will do it someday I'm sure. After this race the season is pretty much over.

Next year I see myself in the Big Granite Marathon in June (Ashland, WI) and then the St. Paul Marathon again in August. Maybe I will also be in the smaller but incredibly beautiful race in Hayward, WI. The Hayward marathon is one week before St. Paul so it could be a good last "training" run for St. Paul.

In the meantime, during the winter, hopefully I can get some skating in over at the RollerDome. I also will continue with weight training (another thing I love to do) and mixing up cardio exercies whenever I can through the winter. My wife Carla and I workout together and it is our time to be together.

I really do need new skates too if I am going to move forward with these plans - especially skating at the fitness and advanced levels. But I have dental work to pay for, cars to fix, home repairs, kids clothes, debts to pay off, etc. before I get the new skates. Nevertheless I will move forward with my plans and God will provide for everything, or make my ready to accept all of his will as it unfolds over the next year.

I skate to be healthy and to bring peace to my family.


P.S. Play "Where's Carla" with the last picture. Carla is in there somewhere taking a picture of my back as I cross the finish line at St. Paul. The photo may be too small but it makes it more of a challenge for you then. Tell me where she is?

What A Real Mature Man Is

This article (Marks of A Man) by Dr. Albert Mohler is simply one of the best summations and practical outlines of what a biblically mature man looks like that I've ever read before. Please read it.

I Am Glad Summer Is Over

Here in lovely Hudson, Wisconsin public school starts in six calendar days. I told my boy that last night before bed and he was shocked. Summer vacation is over. It went fast for him he said. Time to get back into the routine of school schedules, etc.

I am personally happy that summer is over. I do enjoy the summertime for several reasons but not more than the inherent structure the other seasons bring to daily life. I find myself struggling with a sense of boredom this time of year. I want to get back to the school and church activities I enjoy - I miss the people mostly. I also feel more inclined to intensify my efforts at personal disciplines. Strangely, I feel more engaged in life when its not summertime. Looking back, for the past three summers now I get the sense that I didn't really grow spiritually but rather just maintained status quo.

Summer was good but I am glad it is over.

Married Life Blog Series Concluded

Married Life concludes its series "Finding God in my difficult marriage" with this article:

Armed with Faith in my marriage.

This series has affected me more than you. Guaranteed. I didn't post it to expose "the other half" of my marriage. More than anything I like to post things on this blog that are relevant to my own internal struggles, pursuits, desires, and strivings. My first response to this type of material is to get angry. Note, I didn't say my first correct God honoring response.

I usually have to let this type of material marinate until it sucks out all the deadness in my heart. I usually don't say much during this process but if you are around me, you might sense there is an internal battle going on. This marriage series brings to light the sin in my heart and how fond and blind I am towards it. Please understand, I know I am a sinner. It is just that the more I grow the more I hate of my sin and the more I find out how much I don't know, when it comes to dealing with it. Translation - I make bad, foolish choices daily in marriage.

But because of Christ's death, resurrection and current reign in all areas of life, thankfully the difficulties in my marriage (and yours) are being redeemed and used to bring glory to the Father.

Now I will go back and reread these articles with a soft heart. Christ is ALL.

Previous Articles:
Why have you chosen this path for me?
How do I sustain faith in the midst of such a marriage?
How do I continue to love the one who doesn't seem to love me?
How do I maintain perspective when I am so often sinned against?
Will I ever know joy in this marriage?

Married Life Blog- Article 5

Why have you chosen this path for me?

Previous Articles:
How do I sustain faith in the midst of such a marriage?
How do I continue to love the one who doesn't seem to love me?
How do I maintain perspective when I am so oftern sinned against?
Will I ever know joy in this marriage?