Run for God - Connect Magazine - Spring 2017

connect MAGAZINE

SPRING 2017

Beth Roberts Has...

O H

E P

Did you know that God doesn’t give us Fear?

RUNFORGOD.COM

+

GETTING BACK UP INCOMPREHENSIBLE SIMPLICITY

FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT SPRING 2017

1

A WORD FROM MITCHELL

WELCOME TO

connect You know spring is possibly my favorite time of year. It

seems as though everything is creating new life. Trees and bushes are sprouting new growth. Birds that seemed to have disappeared during the winter are sounding their chirps once again. And the smell of fresh cut grass is a sign that grass has once again come to life.

Without the resurrection it’s just a great story...

Because of the resurrection, it’s the Gospel.”

But while spring is a great time to celebrate nature’s renewal, it’s also time to celebrate another death to life story. Jesus! Over 2000 years ago, God sent His Son to live on this earth for 33 years. In many ways, He was just like us. He walked like us. He talked like us. He had emotions like us. He was happy like us. He struggled like us. He was tempted like us, and He prayed like us. But unlike us, He was Perfect.

Jesus was without blemish. His record was clean. But yet, at His Father’s direction, he traded Himself as payment for the souls of anyone who believed in Him. Many believed, but many doubted in what He said would happen just three days later. On that Easter Sunday over 2000 years ago, as Mary was preparing to visit the body of Jesus in a borrowed tomb, something happened that would forever change this world. Instead of seeing a dead body, Mary found herself face to face with the Son of the Living God, Jesus Himself. He is alive! He is who He said He is. As Peter correctly stated in Matthew 16, “He IS the Christ”, and everything He said is true.

This Easter season, I encourage you to pickup a copy of God’s word.

Pick a Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) and read the story of a man named Jesus. Understand that Easter Sunday (the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus) is what validates everything we read in these passages because without the resurrection, it’s just a great story. BUT because of the resurrection, it’s the Gospel!

Happy Spring Everyone!

Mitchell Hebrews 12:1 James 1:2-4

2

SPRING 2017

RUNFORGOD.COM

features

D E P A RT M EN TS

6 Runner Spotlight: GETTING BACK UP

10. DEAN’S THOUGHTS: Facing The Wind

14. Incomprehensible

18 I nstructor Spotlight: A FUTURE OF HOPE

Simplicity

24. Behind the Scenes 27. Sticky Notes 28. DEAN’S THOUGHTS: G od Didn’t Give Us a Spirit of Fear

18

10

6

28 RUNFORGOD.COM

SPRING 2017

3

STARTING YOUR DAY WITH A RUN? START YOUR RUN WITH GOD Pick up your copy of

Run for God

DEVOTIONS TODAY! RUNFORGOD.COM

Copyright © 2016 Run for God, LLC. All rights reserved.

CO N T R I B U T O R S

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any other form or by any means without the prior written permission of the Run for God, LLC. Printed in the United States of America Dalton, Georgia If you require medical, fitness, or nutritional advice, you must contact your own health care professional. You should seek the advice of a doctor before starting any exercise routine.

This publication may contain information relating to various medical conditions and their treatment and an exercise/nutrition protocol. Such information is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice of a physician or health care professional. You should not use this information for diagnosing or treating a health problem or injury.

To make informed health care decisions, you should always consult your physician for your personal medical needs. Neither Run for God nor its agents, affiliates, partners, or licensors are providing these materials to you for the purpose of giving you medical advice.

For any questions about your health and wellbeing, please consult your physician.

4

SPRING 2017

Dean Thompson serves as the National Race Director for the Run for God Race Series as well as serving as an instructor at his home church in Cohutta, GA. Dean loves to run, loves life, loves his wife Debbie and loves Christ. Look for all of Dean’s stories in Run for God’s Devotions.

LET’S CONNECT RUNFORGOD.COM

IT ALL

STARTED WITH A

SHIRT.

START SOMETHING TODAY. RUNFORGOD.COM RUNFORGOD.COM

SPRING 2017

5

Runner Spotlight

Getting Back Up

We’ve all fallen. We have all had a time of weakness, when we felt like it was just too hard to keep moving forward. Sometimes it lasts a day, sometimes it lasts a lifetime. Getting back up after we are knocked down is part of life for all of us. Kevin Tankersley is one of us. He’s human and he has been knocked down, but he has gotten back up. And,

“ 6

isn’t that what counts?

He’s human and he has been knocked down, but he has gotten back up.

And, isn’t that what counts?

SPRING 2017

Kevin has struggled with his weight since graduating from high school.

By 2009, he had gained far more weight than he ever thought he would, eventually getting up to well over three hundred pounds. It didn’t feel good, but to make matters worse, his grandmother, Evelyn, was very active and health conscience. He knew she was disappointed in him, because she had often invited Kevin to go out and walk with her. He wanted to be more like his grandmother.

In June of 2010, he won some back stage passes to a wrestling match and met Diamond Dallas Page, who had developed a new form of exercise called

RUNFORGOD.COM

DDP Yoga. He soon saw a video of a Gulf War paratrooper veteran who had lost a lot of weight through the unconventional exercise. Not exactly what it sounds like, it combines some yoga moves with dynamic resistance. He thought, “Why not?”

After seeing great results he decided to try running too.

He ran a few feet, stopped and caught his breath, and tried some more. He would run as much as he could, alternating walking and running. He had heard about a 5K race in downtown Dalton, GA in October of 2010 and decided to sign up and see if he could cover 3.1 miles. He did, and it snowballed from there. If he could finish a run/walk 5K, could he run the entire way next time? Sure he could, and he proved it at a fund raiser 5K for the victims of the Ringgold tornado disaster of 2011. After crossing that finish line, he was elated and chose to keep running 5Ks. He had lost an incredible 131 pounds and he felt great!

That lasted until his grandmother passed away in September of 2011. His encouragement was gone, but he decided he could honor her by completing a half marathon

Kevin had to rediscover the source of his encouragement. Now, IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING! The marathon awaits...

in October. He crossed that finish line with a sense of great accomplishment, but with a heavy heart as well. He and his grandmother were close and he missed her terribly.

That would be his last run for quite some time. He had been knocked down pretty hard this time.

Over the next few years, he put on more weight than he had lost and was at his heaviest in 2014. With a blood pressure of 220/112, he realized that his grandmother would not be happy with his current fitness level, not to mention he had a daughter and wife to live for and he wasn’t going to see many more years in that condition.

It was certainly tough at first, but he was determined to honor his grandmother and live for his family.

So, he got back up from a low place and began running and DDP Yoga again. That journey involved purposeful running and the process of becoming a Certified DDP Yoga Instructor. His first returning race was the Run for God

RUNFORGOD.COM

LISA, EVELYN, AND KEVIN TANKERSLEY

SPRING 2017

7

Runner Spotlight JFest 10K in East Ridge, Tennessee in 2015. He kept working, lost 120 pounds, and was finally living again.

His wife, Lisa, who was always there to support him, was proud of the direction his life was taking.

Through some internal motivation and a tremendous amount of Godprovided strength, he was back on a path his grandmother would be proud of, and Kevin was able to spend more quality time with “little” Evelyn, his daughter who had been named after his grandmother.

“

The Goal of

Marathon. Shortly after getting back to the finish area, he posted a video to Facebook to explain that he

finishing that

would be back. The mountain had

first marathon

was a renewed determination to

still burns hot months later. be a beautiful setting with enough

not been fully climbed, but there scale the same mountain in exactly one year. This time, when he was knocked down, he was barely on the mat before getting back up. Instead, he thought of another verse, one familiar to nearly all runners, that would sustain him through training, “I can do all things through Christ

He began to think about the next

spectators to “help” him along. In

step. He had conquered the 5K,

November of 2016 he would take

10K and half marathon , in addition

that step that would earn him the

to becoming a certified DDP Yoga

accomplishment of being called a

The goal of finishing that first

Instructor, so there was only one

“Marathoner.”

marathon still burns hot months

logical step remaining; the marathon.

He signed up for the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon in 2016. It would

When race day came he prayed that he had done enough to complete the distance. He began with a positive outlook and was buoyed by his favorite motivational verse of scripture, “For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.” Psalms 91:11. As he left the start line, he felt good; it would be a good day.

Grandmother Evelyn was the original souce of inspiration.

8

hung it up after the Dalton Half-

SPRING 2017

who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

later. Looking back on his experience he realizes that God was trying to tell him a few things. Both his training and his eating habits had suffered a little during the hot summer months. He knows that God wants us to be completely sold out for Him, but he also wants us to put our resources to good use in other areas of our lives. This year he will follow through on the execution

But it all changed around 8 miles.

of his plan, lose a few more pounds,

His legs became heavy, his pace

and rock that marathon! And it

slowed, and he had to focus hard to

will be a little easier; his four year

keep moving. He was able to keep

old daughter has taken an interest

himself going for another 8 miles,

in running. How much more

but at 16 miles, it became clear that

motivation could he possibly need

he couldn’t make to the finish line.

than a cute little four year old girl

His day was over, but this was a

named after his past inspiration

different Kevin than the one who

sharing his journey with him?

RUNFORGOD.COM

THANK YOU TO OUR GREAT PARTNERS!

2 LOCATIONS IN DALTON North 3518 Cleveland Hwy South 1018 South Thornton Ave

To learn more about becoming a Partner, contact Dean at dean@RunforGod.com

COMPLIMENTARY FITTINGS

MEET & GREET

VISIT US ON HIXSON PIKE! RUNFORGOD.COM

SHOE SELECTION SIZE & ASSESS GUARANTEE ON SERVICE & PRODUCTS

10% OFF ENTIRE PURCHASE 4251 HIXSON PIKE CHATTANOOGA, TN (423) 875-3642 | MON-SAT 10AM-6PM

SPRING 2017

9

FACING THE WIND Imagine a world without wind. Lakes would be calm.

Falling leaves wouldn’t blow in the streets.

Trees would always look like a photograph, standing motionless. But in still air, would you expect trees to suddenly fall over?

10

SPRING 2017

That’s what happened in a three-acre glass dome built in the Arizona desert. The trees growing inside a huge windless bubble called Biosphere 2 grew faster than normal until suddenly collapsing under their own weight. They grew faster because of the “perfect” conditions, but were the conditions as “ideal” as one would think? Project researchers eventually came up with an explanation; trees need wind stress to grow strong. The perfect conditions weren’t so idyllic after all.

It’s the same way with running. We can become pretty good runners by just running every day, but we run the risk of falling over if we haven’t faced any wind. In other words, we are at risk for injury if we don’t face stress. So, what does that wind look like to a runner? Here are some things that will help to make you stronger: Running fast from time to time There are a million ways to create stress on your body through running

RUNFORGOD.COM

faster than usual. You only need to pick up the pace once or twice a week to see substantial improvement. You could try intervals; periods of fast running with short “rest jogs” in between. Start easy by doing a total of a mile of faster running, like 4 times 400 meters on the track with 2 minutes of rest (or 200 meters of jogging) between. You can build up to doing more. Unless you’re running marathons, usually 2 to 4 miles is plenty. Running faster forces your body into a more economical running form that strengthens all the right muscles.

others depending on your goal.

Great forms of cross training for runners are: Cycling, elliptical machines, swimming, yoga, Zumba, or anything that works on flexibility and strength. The more closely related to running (like the elliptical machine), the more

Simple strides are another way of running fast. At the end of a regular

beneficial it will be specifically to

run, throw in 6-10 repetitions of 100 meter-long near sprints. Run relaxed

your running. The further you get

and fast at a pace that is not a full sprint, but pretty close. Wait for your

away from running form, the less

breath to return to near normal between each rep.

it will have a direct impact on your

Hill Training

running, but those forms of cross training will help you to build a

There may be no better way to find running strength than through hill

strong core that will help insulate

training. Frank Shorter calls it “speed work in disguise.” Once again,

you from running-related injuries.

running uphill forces your body into a more economical running position that is much easier on your joints while, at the same time, being tougher

Weight Training

on your running muscles. You can simply run on a hilly course focusing

The aforementioned Crossfit falls

on running hard uphill, or you can run hill repeats. Find a 100 to 400

into this category as well. For

meter hill and simply run up the hill hard and either jog very easily or

a long time, there were many

walk on the way back down. Repeat 4 to 20 times depending on your

who thought weight training

fitness and the length of the hill.

was detrimental to running,

Remember to avoid leaning forward from your waist when you run hills.

It will put more pressure on your quads and your lower back and won’t be as beneficial. Instead, lean forward from your ankles, just as you should do when running on flat ground.

Cross Training

but it depends how you use it.

If you’re training like a bodybuilder you won’t find many benefits to your running and you could find increased exposure to injury. However, if you are lifting lighter or moderate weight with

Crossfit is a huge craze right now and there is a reason for it. I’m not suggesting you join a gym to participate in Crossfit (unless you’d like to), but the reason it is so popular is that it creates a more well-rounded fitness. The use of many types of exercise is key. Any workout other

higher repetitions you could see significant increases in strength and therefore, insulation from injury.

than running is considered cross training, though some are better than

“A RIVER CUTS THROUGH ROCK, NOT BECAUSE OF ITS POWER, BUT BECAUSE OF ITS PERSISTENCE.” —JAMES N. WATKINS RUNFORGOD.COM

SPRING 2017

11

SWIMMING

FAITH BODY WEIGHT DIFFERENT STRESS

The more strength training you do, the shorter your muscles become, so stretching and keeping the fibers aligned and as long as possible will only make your strength training more effective.

12

SPRING 2017

ZUMBA

CROSS TRAINING

RUN FAST

“

WEIGHT TRAINING

YOGA

CYCLING

HILLS

Think of body weight type exercises, like pushups, for example. If your weight training is something that enhances these types of exercises, it is good for your running. Of course, body weight exercises are sufficient for building strength too. Focus most of these body weight exercises on your core to strengthen the muscles that help you to keep good running posture (abs, glutes, hips, lower back).

Yoga or similar exercise Other than strength, the most important thing you can do to stay injuryfree is to keep your muscles loose and long. Stretching and Yoga-type exercises are great for keeping you flexible. The more strength training you do, the shorter your muscles become, so stretching and keeping the fibers aligned and as long as possible will only make your strength training more effective. It seems that very few runners take the time to stretch after workouts, but the ones who do have a much better chance of remaining on the run. Don’t miss the opportunity to be stronger just because you don’t want to take the five minutes after a workout to stretch.

Just like a tough workout will stretch the limits of our bodies, Satan will test the limits of your faith. If your faith is strong, it will be easier to resist the temptation he exposes you to every day. That strength training comes from a firm foundation of Biblical knowledge and an intimate relationship with the one and only True God. The extra time we take to make our bodies stronger to avoid injury is well worth it. Isn’t the extra time we spend with God in the word and in prayer even more important to our well-being?

RUNFORGOD.COM

Come Join Us! 2017 Race Schedule April 15, 2017 Run at the Mill 5K, 10K, Half Marathon - Dalton, GA April 15, 2017 Virtual Run at the Mill 5K, 10K, Half Marathon Anywhere, USA May 20, 2017 JFest 5K Festival - Chattanooga, TN July 22, 2017 Dalton Parks Triathlon - Dalton, GA August 19, 2017 The Pinky 5K - Dalton, GA August 19, 2017 The Virtual Pinky 5K - Anywhere, USA RUNFORGOD.COM

SPRING 2017

13

Dean’ s Thoughts

INCOMPREHENSIBLE SIMPLICITY

The story of Naaman in the 5th chapter of 2 Kings gives us an interesting picture of who God is and how we should look at our relationship with Him.

14

SPRING 2017

RUNFORGOD.COM

Naaman was the captain of the

to live in one of these colonies. Surely it was something that occupied

army of Aram which was situated

his mind constantly. The idea of leaving his lavish lifestyle to join a

just northeast of Israel. Though

group of outcasts must have been terrifying. Fortunately, his boss,

they were neighbors, they rarely

the king, liked him and wanted to see him taken care of.

got along. Aram was growing in power and would, occasionally, raid Israel to cause confusion and problems for them. On their successful trips to Israel, they would sometimes bring back captives. Naaman had a servant who was one of those captives. She was an Israelite girl who seemed to genuinely care about him.

It turns out that Naaman had leprosy, a dreaded disease that varied in degree and forced many people to live outside of the city in leper colonies if their case was severe enough to be seen by others.

It seems clear that his case was either mild or in its early stages, otherwise he may have been sent

In today’s language, Naaman said, “Seriously dude?...

RUNFORGOD.COM

Back to the servant girl: Even though she was taken from her native land, she cared enough about Naaman to mention that she knew of a prophet in Israel who could heal his leprosy. Of course, when he heard about the prophet, and because he knew the outcome of living with leprosy was never good, he went to the king, and asked if he could go to the prophet to see if he could be healed. The king granted him the request and sent along money to pay for the service and a letter to Israel’s king explaining Naaman’s predicament. The king had a vested interest in the health and well-being of his army captain.

When Naaman arrived and gave his letter to the king of Israel, the king didn’t know what to do. He was angry that the king of Aram had apparently thought he could cure leprosy. He was angry because he felt that this was an attempt to pick a fight with him. When the prophet Elisha hears about the dilemma he offers to help. He tells the king to send Naaman to him and he will take care of the precarious situation.

So Naaman pulls up to Elisha’s door with great fanfare and flashy chariots. He gets down from his chariot and stands at Elisha’s door with the expectation that he will come and call out to the God of heaven, wave his hand over his disease and he will be healed. But that’s not what happened. Elisha sends a messenger to the door to give him a simple message. Naaman was told to go to the Jordan River and wash seven times and his disease would go away. He was mad. In today’s language, Naaman said, “Seriously dude? I thought you were going to heal me. The rivers where I come from are much nicer than that nasty Jordan River! I could have stayed home and done that! Apparently you don’t understand how serious this is.”

Naaman was going to head home until one of his servants spoke up and said, “What will it hurt to try it? If he had asked you to do something spectacular, you would have done it. Why not give it a go?” So, he went down to the muddy Jordan and dipped himself seven times and he was healed. Of course, he changed his tune then.

SPRING 2017

15

It’s that way with salvation.

It requires a simple act, but has a profound impact. It’s easy to do, but it’s hard to follow through.

The message is uncomplicated, but it takes more than a lifetime to understand.

He went back to Elisha to tell him

but it takes more than a lifetime

that he now understood that there

to understand. It’s why super-

was no other God but the God

intellectual people often have a

of Israel, and to pay him for his

hard time with Christianity. They

service. Elisha would not take any

believe that nothing so important

compensation.

could possibly be that simple. But,

There are many lessons in these first 19 verses of the fifth chapter of 2 Kings but I want to focus on one. The thirteenth verse says, “And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do

it is. It always has been, and will always be. God loves us and wants us to spend eternity with Him and He gives us an unpretentious, straightforward way to get there.

Don’t miss the message by trying to make it too complicated.

something great, would you not

Running is similar to our salvation

have done it? How much more

in this way: It’s simple. Step one:

then, when he says to you, ‘Wash,

One foot in front of the other. Step

and be clean’?” Naaman seemed

two: Repeat step one! At the

to be looking for some grand

same time, lifelong runners know

spectacle, or at least for the hand

there’s always more just over the

of the prophet to physically touch

horizon on the next run. There

him. What he failed to see is that

can be a lot to think about. Am I

the ceremony or the act means

hydrated? How many miles should

nothing other than to prove that

I run? Am I eating the right foods?

he believed. God doesn’t have to

Should I do speedwork? How do I

create a huge production, though

prepare to run in the cold? What’s

sometimes He does, to get His point

my playlist going to be? What’s

across. He simply wants us to

that pain in my calf? All are valid

understand who He is and that He

thoughts and questions, but don’t

is in control.

miss the simplicity of running.

It’s that way with salvation. It requires a simple act, but has a profound impact. It’s easy to do, but it’s hard to follow through.

The message is uncomplicated,

Do you think a dog thinks about his form or what he ate when he’s running? No, he just runs for the enjoyment of it because God made him that way. Sometimes we just need to run like a dog.

SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO RUN LIKE A DOG 16

SPRING 2017

RUNFORGOD.COM

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

For more information about becoming a sponsor contact Dean Thompson at Dean@runforgod.com

RUNFORGOD.COM

SPRING 2017

17

Instructor Spotlight

A Future of HOPE

Depression nearly took her life before her journey to real health and fitness would begin.

Beth Roberts remembers the first time a doctor said something about her weight. In the process of her 6th grade physical, the doctor commented, “I see you’re taking after your mother.” Subsequently, the struggle for control of her weight would plague her for the next 35 years.

The issue had far-reaching effects that stretched far beyond the constant gain weight/lose weight cycle so typical for those who struggle with corpulence. Depression nearly took her life before her journey to real health and fitness would begin.

To those of us who have never ventured into the depths of severe depression, it simply cannot be understood. I didn’t meet Beth until her depression problems were behind her. I thought, how could a sweet lady with a passion for Jesus and for fitness ever have gone through such a horrific encounter with evil? But she did.

In December of 2004, she was at work when she decided that her family would be better off without her. She left her desk with a box cutter, a tablet and photo of her children. She locked herself in her car, wrote three letters, propped her children’s photo in front of her and began cutting herself. After two hours, her boss found her in the parking lot and went to get help. While help was on the way, she drove off and found a parking

18

SPRING 2017

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 RUNFORGOD.COM

lot in front of a large store and

She saw her mother, who was overweight, diabetic, with heart disease

resumed cutting her wrists, elbows

and arthritis, struggling with her health. She had developed sores on

and neck. She would pass out, come

her feet that required daily care. Beth became her “visiting nurse,”

to, and begin digging at the cuts

tending to her wounds and watching her struggle for her next breath

again. Finally, a store employee

as she walked down the hall and labor just to climb back into her

found her at 11 p.m. and called 911.

bed. Beth realized that she was looking into the futuristic mirror that

When they took her to the hospital,

would become her world if she didn’t do something about her weight.

everyone knew who she was because they had been looking for her all day. The nurse at the hospital was dumbfounded as to how she had survived such a suicide attempt.

According to medical professionals,

In November of 2011, she learned that she would be starting a new job in January. That would be the perfect time, in her mind, to begin a new diet and exercise plan and travel down the road to better health. But she was knocked off course by her mother’s death in midDecember.

Beth Roberts should have died that

When she opened 2012 with her new job, the last thing she wanted

day.

to do was think about diet and exercise. Simply going to work and

God carried her through that attempt, and would have to carry her through five more years of depression-related medical issues,

making it through the day was enough of a burden with the freshness of her mother’s death still palpable in her mind. It was a couple more weeks before God would send her the message that would change the direction of her life.

but He was not done with her. At the

A memo came to her desk from the Wellness Committee announcing

end of those dreadful five years, God

a walking challenge. Seizing on the opportunity, Beth signed up

began to lift the fog away from her

immediately and on January 30, 2012 began to wear a pedometer

circumstances and she began to see

throughout the day. In addition, she began journaling her food intake.

things more clearly.

There was no special diet, but rather a determination to make better food choices and to give up soda and drink more water. The weight

RUNFORGOD.COM

SPRING 2017

19

Instructor Spotlight

“

I discovered truth in Jeremiah 29:11. That “whim” to run I felt on June 27, 2012 was God. He knew why I decided to run that day. ... And He knew that I’d see the Run for God post and want to be a part of it. And He knew that it would bring me back into an intimate relationship with Him.

Beth and Keith Roberts

began to drop. The more she walked, the better she ate, the faster the weight came off and the better she felt.

On June 27, while walking, she decided to try running from one intersection to another, a distance just over a quarter of a mile. Six months prior to that date, she couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without panting for the next breath, but that day she ran over a quarter of a mile without stopping! She carried the excitement of her accomplishment home with her and told her husband, Keith, what she had done. His response?

“That’s great! Are you going to keep running?” She hadn’t thought that far ahead! His question prompted her answer with her actions. She kept running and making better food choices and the weight continued to fall off.

On October 6, 2012, her 46th birthday, Beth ran her first 5K. She was now 75 pounds lighter and was able to finish way under her 40 minute goal, running under 33 minutes! That was it, she was hooked for good!

20

SPRING 2017

RUNFORGOD.COM

But, she was not done confronting her

life being hot and cold in her relationship with God. When her running

demons.

journey had begun, she was going through a “cold” spell. She knew she

God had completed stage one of His plan by lifting her up to a place higher

wasn’t comfortable there so her family chose to begin going to a new church.

than she had ever been, but He wanted

Though the church was new, the pastor was not. Robert Brody had

to show her an entirely different way

been their pastor at another church they had attended so, with that

to approach her running. People would

familiarity, she e-mailed Pastor Robert one day asking for some spiritual

say things to her like, “If you can do it,

guidance to get her back on track. With credit card in hand, expecting

I can do it.” And, “You have inspired

a book or devotion recommendation, she was disappointed in the reply

me.” But, Beth didn’t want to inspire

from the pastor. He suggested that she get involved in the church again.

others to run, nor did she want running

She thought, “He probably had positons open that he was looking to

to be minimized into an “anybody can

fill.” What a typical pastor response! They weren’t even an official

do it” mentality. It was HER thing, she

part of the church at this point, so she reluctantly agreed to a one-time

had worked hard for this, and she liked

commitment.

it that way.

While waiting for his recommendation, she happened to see a Run for

After a year and a half of running,

God post and she was intrigued. She became excited at the prospect of

finding a new body, a new hobby

meshing her love for running with her walk of faith, e-mailing Pastor

and more happiness, she realized

Robert the link to Run for God and hoping for a positive response. The

that something was missing. She

church was traditionally conservative and she wasn’t sure they would

was raised in church, but spent her

approve.

BEFORE

RUNFORGOD.COM

AFTER

SPRING 2017

21

Instructor Spotlight He knew that I’d see the Run for God post and want to be a part

Keith and Beth’s Mariage is stronger than ever as they grow closer to God.

of it. And He knew that it would bring me back into an intimate relationship with Him.” Now 120 pounds lighter, Beth and her husband Keith run together and have taken up a challenge to run a 5K in every state. Beth maintains a Facebook Page called Healthy for Him to help others who are traveling down the same unhealthy road she did. Their children Emily and Austin support their parents 100%. Emily is getting married later this year and Austin, the baseball player, has overcome some serious injuries in the past couple of years.

The church enthusiastically approved Beth

In addition, Keith and Beth’s marriage is stronger than ever as

to become a Run for God instructor and

they grow closer to God. Keith has been preaching from the

lead a 5K Challenge class! In September

pulpit and they have become a deacon couple. Beth says she owes

2014, the first New Danville Mennonite

her spiritual development to the Run for God “kick start.” The

Church Run for God group began.

Roberts’ road has taken a decidedly deliberate turn down God’s intended path.

The next twelve weeks saw 12 incredible people come to enjoy running, even

Once again, God proves that He can use our talents and the things

continuing to run today, often together.

we love to help others draw closer to Him. All we have to do is

But, more importantly, they became

yield to His urging when He playfully says things like, “Betcha

spiritually stronger and closer than any of

can’t run a quarter of a mile!”

them would have imagined. And that lady who selfishly wanted to keep her running to herself found more joy in sharing running than she had thought possible.

She says, “Some of my greatest running moments now include running alongside graduating Run for God members as they cross the finish line of their first 5K.” Most importantly, God had completed stage two of Beth’s journey to a closer walk with Him. He had showed her that it is okay to love something, but to share that love with others is even better. She says, “I discovered truth in Jeremiah 29:11. That “whim” to run I felt on June 27, 2012 was God. He knew why I decided to run that day. He knew when my husband asked if I was going to keep running that I was going to keep running. He knew when I asked Pastor Robert for help that I’d be advised to get involved in church. And

22

SPRING 2017

Friend for a Day When Beth found this man struggling in the middle of the race, her encouragement took him the rest of the way home.

RUNFORGOD.COM

GET YOURS TODAY! RUNFORGOD.COM

SPRING 2017

23

A PICTURE OF

Faithfulness

BEHIND THE SCENES

By Gaye Coker

F

rom the very first Run for God class Mitchell taught, Shannon Coker has been actively involved with the Run for God ministry.

Today, from behind the scenes he is the set-up and take-down man for our Run for God races.

Did you ever wonder who places and picks up all those tables, water coolers, cups, and signs along our awesome race courses? That is Shannon. He quietly travels along the course in the early morning dusk before the runners arrive, to make sure the course is ready for that all important bull horn to announce the race start. He then goes along behind the last runners to pick up and clean up the course.

Shannon absolutely loves to talk to runners. You can find him at each of our packet pick-up/registrations, helping others who are not familiar with the layout of the course.. Shannon has run each course many, many times over the years and knows each twist, hill and turn. He is a wealth of information to those who are seeking help for that all important race day.

24

SPRING 2017

RUNFORGOD.COM

BEHIND THE SCENES

His favorite thing to do is encourage runners. You will find him often

His wife often reminds him he does

commenting on Facebook whether on the Run for God Instructor’s page,

have other shirts in his closet. But

Run for God - Run Club page or the Run for God Facebook page with

Shannon insists on wearing his

words of inspiration as others are moving forward in their Run for God

Run for God shirts daily.

journey.

Shannon’s faith in God is an

Not a runner in January 2010, he stayed the course as Mitchell led that

inspiration to everyone he knows.

first group. Shannon now has hundreds of miles and hundreds of races

He serves as a Deacon at Grove

behind him. He has even been through back surgery, and completed 2

Level Baptist Church and is

Run for God Triathlon’s!

diligent in making certain the

He has taught several Run for God classes and rest assured, Shannon is praying for this ministry daily. He looks forward to hearing from you as you shine Jesus through your running accomplishments.

Preschool Department is secure as his wife is the Preschool 1 Director.

He loves to serve others and is faithful in his walk with the Lord.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

For more information about becoming a sponsor contact Dean Thompson at Dean@runforgod.com

RUNFORGOD.COM

SPRING 2017

25

26

SPRING 2017

RUNFORGOD.COM

Book Review:

Time Trials BY: ERIC SMITH

S

ST I CK Y NOT ES

building as I ate the race sponsored dinner.

The story is about Wes Strong who grows up in tough circumstances but overcomes them to earn a scholarship to Clemson University in the Cross Country and Track programs. An injury forces him to begin taking painkillers which leads to the increasing need for them. Even though Wes has a good heart and wants to do right, a couple of bad decisions lead to a tragedy that lands him a correctional facility. His life seems over until he meets the mysterious Preacher, who helps God guide him to redemption beyond anything Wes had ever seen.

After a few years in prison, he seizes on a chance to help others avoid the same life he has lived by working at the Bowers-Rodgers Shelter for Abused Children. He meets Roxie who encourages him to begin running again as a way to motivate the children. One thing leads to another and Wes ends up

I LIKE TO PICTURE GOD REACHING DOWN TO EARTH AND GENTLY MOVING PEOPLE CLOSE TOGETHER LIKE CHESS PIECES AND THEN SITTING BACK AND SAYING, “WATCH THIS!” I think that’s what He did last fall when he brought Eric Smith and I in the same room to see what happened.

Eric was at packet pick up for the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, and I was working as a volunteer pacer explaining how pacing works to those who had questions. I just “happened” to be wearing a Run for God shirt, and he began to ask questions, not about pacing, but about the Run for God program.

I found out that Eric had written a Christian running-related fictional book called Time Trials. I asked if he had one with him, and of course he did. Being an avid reader, a lover of all things running-related, and interested in anything Jesus-related, I was instantly insistent that I own a copy! I began reading it before I even left the

RUNFORGOD.COM

running the Boston Marathon as a gift from his co-workers at the Shelter.

The story is grounded in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

It is a picture of what can happen to us when we are sold out for Christ and walking in obedience to His Word. It is an uplifting, page-turner, that will have you sympathizing with Wes, crying for Wes, and cheering in support of Wes as he travels an often tough, but ultimately glorious road.

You don’t want to miss it. You can order yours from Eric’s website www.weswriter.com for the special offer of $15 which includes shipping.

ERIC SMITH IS A CHRISTIAN AUTHOR WHO RESIDES IN GREENWOOD, SOUTH CAROLINA. HE WAS ON THE ORIGINAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BOWERS-RODGERS HOME FOR ABUSED CHILDREN IN GREENWOOD. A LONG TIME MARATHONER, HE IS ALSO A FIVE-TIME FINISHER OF THE BOSTON MARATHON, INCLUDING 2013. IN ADDITION, HE IS CURRENTLY LEADING HIS FIRST RUN FOR GOD 5K CHALLENGE CLASS.

SPRING 2017

27

Dean’s Thoughts

God Didn’t Give us

A Spirit

28

SPRING 2017

RUNFORGOD.COM

t of Fear J

ust before the end Of the

twentieth century, there was a nationalistic uprising in China.

The government was crushing

any and all western thought of freedom and Christianity. It was a horrific time for Christians as they were slaughtered through firing squads, beheading or any other method that suited the enforcers, and bodies were stacked in huge piles.

Missionaries and Christians would set up communes where they could work together for their own protection and safety. Eventually, though, many of these compounds were found and stormed by troops. One such complex contained 100 missionaries and Chinese Christians when it was discovered.

The Chinese military descended on the complex and locked all the doors except one. The troops drew a cross in the dirt just outside the open door and residents of the compound were commanded to walk out the door one by one and stomp on the cross, denouncing their faith, and they would be allowed to go free. If anyone refused he or she would be killed at the point of a sword immediately. Fearing

RUNFORGOD.COM

SPRING 2017

29

We often look at Peter’s lack of faith that subsequently caused him to begin sinking when he took his eyes off Jesus, but what about the fact that he had the gumption to leave the boat?

to prepare for a race, or any number of other things. Sometimes we’re motivated by fear. It could be the fear of what can happen, like being ridiculed for being different, or the fear of what may not happen, like not finishing a marathon. Either way, fear is a very popular motivator. It can lead to positive results, like the fear of gaining weight if I don’t run, but fear is never a good long-term motivator. And it’s wrong!

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Fear is not of God. It sounds harsh, but most fear is sin. Of course, we all experience fear because we’re human, but it doesn’t erase Paul’s words. God doesn’t give us fear.

We will always find things we fear, but it’s how we react to that fear that is the key. When Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water in a storm, Matthew 14:26 says, “And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.” It was the unfamiliar scene, the impossible scene, playing out in front of them that caused them to have doubt and

for their lives, the first seven out the

be fearful. Isn’t that how we react to unfamiliar territory?

door did as they were instructed. They were allowed to walk away. The eighth

But, Peter chose a different path than the other 11 disciples. He said in

person through the door was an eight

verse 28, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

year-old Chinese Christian. As she came

We often look at Peter’s lack of faith that subsequently caused him to

through the door, she knelt before the

begin sinking when he took his eyes off Jesus, but what about the fact

cross and prayed. Then she rose and

that he had the gumption to leave the boat? His faith might have been

carefully stepped over the cross. She

too weak to continue walking on the water, but look at what his limited

was immediately put to death. The

faith did. He set an example for 11 men and teaches us a lesson about

remaining 92 people all followed her lead

faith 2,000 years later!

and did the same thing, with the same result.

God intends for us to follow good examples, but what about the times

We all make choices. An old song lyric

we follow less than Godly examples? What happens when there are

by the group Rush says, “If you choose

no Godly examples present? He wants us to be leaders that have an

not to decide, you still have made a

impact on those around us. Jesus’ last words were, “Go therefore and

choice.” They’re all choices. Every

make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the

day, we make hundreds of choices, and

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe

each of those choices is motivated by

all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,

something. When we decide to go for

even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20.

a run, for example, we’re motivated by something. It may be losing weight, meeting with a friend, pure enjoyment,

30

We will all go through life either following the lead or being the lead.

SPRING 2017

We call it The Great Commission and Jesus didn’t use weak language.

He says, “Go.” He doesn’t say, “Go if you feel like it” or “Go when you get time.” Here are some tough questions: What kind of a lasting

RUNFORGOD.COM

impact are you making on the world? How many

If you’re a typical runner, many of the people around

people will arrive in Heaven and tell of the time

you know that you run, and chances are pretty good

you shared Christ with them? I tremble at the

that many of them are inspired by what you do. If

thought of facing an omnipotent God and thinking

you have been a long time runner, you probably

about the answer to that question. That’s fear.

know someone who began running because of that

But, here’s the toughest question of all: Am I

inspiration. It’s amazing how impactful we can be to

going to use that fear to motivate me to share

those around us by providing an example to follow.

Christ, or am I going to give into the more worldly fear of rejection or ridicule?

So, here’s the thing; you’re a runner. You’re already different, if not a little off your rocker, for being a

According to Running USA, there were 7,643,600

runner anyway. You already have it in you to stand

5K finishers in 2015. The population of the United

out. Since we are a fraction of the population we are

Sates is roughly 320 million. Only 2.4% of the

a select group. Can we be the small percentage of

population finished a 5K in 2015. If we assume

the population who take the time to share Christ with

that for every person who crossed a 5K finish line,

others too? But, even more special, we are all loved

there was another person who runs but did not

(runner and non-runner) by a Holy God who wants to

complete a 5K, that’s roughly 5% of the population

see us take up His plan for our lives. He’s clear about

who are runners. Out of a random group of

what He wants us to do, but it’s up to us to find the

twenty people, you are the only one who is a

path to get there. Pray for God’s guidance and live

runner. You’re pretty special.

without fear and that path becomes clear.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK TO

GET YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF

DEAN’S

THOUGHTS ON THE RUN AND SEE ALL OF OUR VIDEOS AT

RUNFORGOD.COM/ VIDEOS RUNFORGOD.COM

SPRING 2017

31

32

SPRING 2017

RUNFORGOD.COM

FOR ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS CONTACT DEAN THOMPSON AT dean@RunforGod.com or 706-264-7101

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?