Bicycling

Times of Refreshing

This morning Carlos Whittaker posted about his recovery process. It got me thinking.

I haven’t had a “super high emotional and spiritual experience” but I have had a very busy and productive couple of weeks. In the midst of God doing a lot in our midst, seeing great things come to conclusion and great things beginning, I haven’t taken time to refresh.

Being outside is what feeds me. I love being outdoors usually on a bicycle. I’m also a wimp in the cold so I don’t ride in the winter which means I get fat, out of shape, and unrefreshed. Why do I live in a cold climate you ask? I don’t know.

Jesus spent lots of time going away to a quiet place to be with the Father. The sabbath rest is a big deal and I need to make it more of a priority. What’s your routine? What feeds you? What’s the biggest obstacle to your resting?

Would love your thoughts.

Posted by Gary in Bicycling, Intimacy W/God, Personal, Practical

The First Day

Today I begin working toward the goals for 2010.

I have found a place to set up recording equipment and have a plan for writing the book and for getting in shape to ride the copper triangle.

Haven’t found a countdown widget so I’ll just keep track and post progress. Thanks for keeping me accountable.

Posted by Gary in Bicycling, Just for fun, Personal

To Find Him Where He Can Be Found.

God speaks to me sometimes by sending the same message in different ways over a period of time and then I have what I call a coalescing moment where it all comes together.

I just had one of those when I received a my daily email from the Copelands and from a friend on Facebook from Zimbabwe. We have never met and I don’t know why he found me and asked me to be his friend. He has 6 friends and I am the only one not from Zumbabwe.

Since launching into ministry in January I have had an interesting ride. I am living the dream but have been plagued with fear and doubt shortly after making the decision. Building the kingdom has been in my heart for over 10 years. At a workshop for worship with Job Vijil I knew this is what I was born to do. God has always been faithful so why the worry?

I say He is my strength and my shield, my ever present help in time of need. I’m standing on the Word but I haven’t spoken in in weeks. Instead I have been speaking death. A couple weeks ago my amazing wife scolded me strongly for the way I’m talking and she is exactly right. She is such a blessing to me. The Word of God is the final word but I must put it to work by speaking it out.

I am reminded of a short prayer by Hans Ur von Balthasar I apologize if I’ve posted this before:

Harassed by life, exhausted, we look about us for somewhere to be quiet, to be genuine, a place of refreshment. We yearn to restore our spirits in God, to simply let go in him and gain new strength to go on living.

But we fail to look for him where he is waiting for us, where he is to be found; in his Son, who is his Word. Or else seek for God because there are a thousand things we want to ask him, and imagine that we cannot go on living unless they are answered. We inundate him with problems, with demands for information, for clues, for an easier path, forgetting that in his Word he has given us the solution to every problem and all the details we are capable of grasping in this life.

We fail to listen where God speaks; where God’s Word rang out in the world once for all, sufficient for all ages, inexhaustible. Or else we think that God’s Word has been heard on earth for so long that by now it is almost used up. That it is about time for some new word, as if we had the right to demand one. We fail to see that it is we ourselves who are used up and alienated, whereas the Word resounds with the same vitality and freshness as ever; it is just as near to us as it always was.

Hans Ur von Balthasar, Prayer. Trans. Graham Harrison (San Fancisco: Ignatius Press, 1986)

Today I committ to being in His Word and daily seeking Him in the secret place for His direction. I encourage you to do the same.

Blessings as you walk with Him.

Posted by Gary in Bicycling, Civics, Faith, Intimacy W/God, Personal, Worship

Street BMXer is Amazing

I haven’t posted anything bicycling for a long time. So when I saw this I had to post it.

I don’t know who this guy is but WOW!

I don’t know if I wish I could do this or not.

enjoy it’s worth the five minutes.

Posted by Gary in Bicycling

Winter Riding

I am sick of politics, though I am hopeful, I am discouraged today at the ignorance, I mean that not in the pejorative sense, of the American public. So I’m going to change the subject.

I don’t really know if anyone reads this blog and if anyone does I really don’t know why. Today I am going to do an experiment. I’m going to ask a question,

Here it is:

It’s about 58 and sunny today and since my work hours have changed to 6:00 am to 3:00 pm  I get home around 3:45 with plenty of time to ride outside. I hate riding indoors and can’t seem to make myself. I would love to get a computrainer but I don’t have $1,000 and I’m not convinced if I bought one I would use it. Did I mention I hate riding indoors? I did? Sorry.

I don’t really have the gear for winter riding. I have one very light pair of full finger gloves, one pair of very cheap tights with no chamois, one long sleeved jersey, a very light jacket, good headcover, a pair of shoes full of holes, ventilation not worn out. 🙂

Do you ride in the cold?
Where do I start accumulating gear?
Should I buy tights or leg warmers?
Where should I spend my money? I’m thinking shoes but not sure.

So there it is. let me know what you think. even if your not a cyclist I would love to hear your thoughts.

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Posted by Gary in Bicycling

Lance is Back

Armstrong comes out of retirement

Cyclist Lance Armstrong confirmed Tuesday that he will be returning to road racing and attempt to win an eighth Tour de France. “I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden,” Armstrong said in a statement issued by his LiveStrong Foundation. VeloNews reports that he will race with the Astana team, taking no salary or bonuses.

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Posted by Gary in Bicycling

This happened to me last year

Just when I was starting to feel good on the bike. I’m at 1000 miles for the year. Not much by some standards quite a bit by others. For me I’m halfway to my goal for the year.

Just like last year about this time the weather is perfect in the morning until about mid afternoon and then the clouds roll in. Which by itself is not so bad. The lightning however is completely different set of circumstances. We have had 3 people that I know of struck by lightning this year. I don’t want to be the 4th.

On top of everything else I have been so busy I haven’t been able to ride as much. So my options are too get up in the morning. Not a great option but an option none the less. Or come in a little earlier and take a long lunch. I have been doing that a couple times a week but I rely on at least one or two evenings to get my miles in.

Oh well if it’s that important, and I believe it is for my sanity, then I will have to make time.

In the meantime. My quiet times have been sweet. Though still not as regular and consistent as I would like when I am able to make time they are sweet. I so love the presence of God and His still small voice. The Word of God is amazing and always timely, always weighty. I am so blessed.

I hope you are able to keep your priorities straight and make time for the one thing that is selfish and feeds you.

Blessings,

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Posted by Gary in Bicycling, Intimacy W/God, Personal

Happy Fathers Day.

Another beautiful day in Colorado Springs, but first happy fathers day to all you dad’s.

Especially to my dad. He taught me a lot about commitment, doing what you say your going to do. My dad always does more than is expected. He’s a great craftsman and a very hard worker. I will call him later this evening and tell him how much I appreciate him.

On to the ride. My fathers day gift from my family was 3 hours on my bike it was great.

I loaded up two 16oz water bottles and my camel back with two cliff bars and headed out with the goal of 50 miles without going into the red zone. The wind was perfect and the temp was good. Warm but not too hot. I only went into the red zone 3 times. the first time a black ant flew into the vents in my helmet on the first big climb after Palmer Lake. I didn’t want to stop on the climb so I hammered to the top, took off my helmet and shook him loose. He only bit me a half dozen times so I’m good.

The second time was the top of Larkspur pass, it’s a steep one, and the final climb after Larkspur. It’s long and I was tired so I spun it up to the top. The rest of the ride was good. I had good legs all the way home. Here are the numbers:
3:15:39, 50.09 miles, 15.3mph avg, 42.4max, burned 3485 calories, bring on the shortcake, and avg hrt of 153, weighing in at 162 & something, about 20% body fat, who can tell with my goofy scale.
Looking forward to a good week. I’ll check in Monday if I ride. It’s my 18th anniversary and I’m trying to get my wife to go out with me.

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Posted by Gary in Bicycling

I admit it.

I wimped out. I gave in to the wind. I love Colorado Springs but it’s June 15th and we have only had about 4 days of summer. The last few days have been nice so I’ve had some nice rides.

the first follows:
Friday was almost a perfect day. The only wind was a slight tail wind on the way home.

I haven’t had a single ride this year that I averaged 16mph so that was my goal. Here are the numbers:
1:15:40, 21.44 miles, 17 mph avg :-), 44.1 mph max, burned 1426 calories with an avg hrt of 165. Weighing in at 164.8 and somewhere around 20% body fat.

I’ll post todays ride next.

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Posted by Gary in Bicycling