Well for those of you who follow my Twitter you know I have been trying to get back to running... well after taking 4 days off I went running this afternoon and increased my distance to a grand total of 1.5 miles......at a ten minute mile I am not fast right now or going long distances yet but I am starting to get back into the act of running. Even feeling that first little bit of runners high.
I am finding more and more that when I have people to run with who are faster and can run farther than I can, I am more motivated. I have been running on the tread mill because I am a pansy and it is flipping cold outside...ranging from 20's to 30's- too cold to just jump right into-maybe next year I will be accustomed to the cold and will be able to run long distances and not feel like my lungs are about to burst.
In other news I am scheduled to take the GRE on Feb. 21 and I feel completely unprepared...I have study aides but it is hard to take the first step of opening or getting those out.... I did however find out that my sunday school teacher's wife is a math teacher= sweet....I am really struggling to regain the ability to do advanced math- like I know what has to be done to solve the problems but not how....hopefully w/in the next month I will have a new confidence...
anyway I hope everyone is well.
Much love, Ira
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!!!
New year time for a new post.... so I have spent a little time in reflection on events of the last year and as I look back at choices and actions I have done in the last year all I can do is strive, hope and pray to do better. I am floored by God's patience w/ me as I feel like all I seem to do is fail Him. I have been attempting to read the bible through since my junior year of college as my quiet time and I am now in Acts at the begininning of the new year and it makes me so humbled as I read of Paul and how bold he was about his faith....talk about living in light of eternity, so often I find that I am a poor pitiful man worrying about what people who are dying and going to hell will think of me if I talk to them about my Savior- who cares what people think- God give me the wisdom to be so in awe of you that you are on the tip of my tongue no matter the context I am in at the moment. I am so thankful that God made Salvation a process in which day by day as I seek him I am made holy....
I really miss having running partners who not only push me to get stronger w/ physically running distances but also those who encourage; push me to grow and point out truth to my life spiritually. A very wise man pointed out to me once that truth will either make you mad or make you holy---I really need to get back into a running routine before moving this May so I can just join back into that time-I need the extra push and encouragement.
Well we have had a busy fall this last year and it has made both Melanie and I stressed at times so we are using some extra cash(this is an illusion there is no such thing as extra cash) and going to Branson for a one night getaway today. So I guess if you need us you can call the nuclear phones.
As always much love,
Ira
I really miss having running partners who not only push me to get stronger w/ physically running distances but also those who encourage; push me to grow and point out truth to my life spiritually. A very wise man pointed out to me once that truth will either make you mad or make you holy---I really need to get back into a running routine before moving this May so I can just join back into that time-I need the extra push and encouragement.
Well we have had a busy fall this last year and it has made both Melanie and I stressed at times so we are using some extra cash(this is an illusion there is no such thing as extra cash) and going to Branson for a one night getaway today. So I guess if you need us you can call the nuclear phones.
As always much love,
Ira
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Time running out...
It is now December 14th and I am really starting to feel the holiday crunch with Christmas shopping and looking at the busy schedule Melanie and I have for the next several weeks/lifetime. We had our first weekend in a while that we could actually spend with each other and not worry about the busy events we had covered our calendar this weekend. We really needed it and it was really nice. We just stayed home most of the day on Saturday, watched movies, talked, and just spent time together which both of our schedules had put a strain on. It occurs to me that if I am not careful I may spend an entire day w/ my wife and not have spent a single second pursuing to grow together, maybe even spending the majority of the day seeking my own gain. This is so incredibly screwed up as I think of what I am commanded to do in Ephesians 5:25-33
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[c] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
I have to be incredibly intentional or I just become the average husband instead of my wife's dream come true and instead of giving up my rights and showing love as I should to her- I turn to my natural selfish self and become rude and snap at my wife over the smallest little infractions on what I incorrectly perceive as my rights.
I am encouraged as I know that this is not a problem which cannot be solved because I look at those who have gone before me who have set an amazing example and minimum standard.
This idea that my marriage is something I have to be incredibly intentional about when my wife is physically there in front of me reminds me how much more intentional we have to be about our pursuit of God.
As always I hope this is encouraging to you all,
Much love, Ira.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[c] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
I have to be incredibly intentional or I just become the average husband instead of my wife's dream come true and instead of giving up my rights and showing love as I should to her- I turn to my natural selfish self and become rude and snap at my wife over the smallest little infractions on what I incorrectly perceive as my rights.
I am encouraged as I know that this is not a problem which cannot be solved because I look at those who have gone before me who have set an amazing example and minimum standard.
This idea that my marriage is something I have to be incredibly intentional about when my wife is physically there in front of me reminds me how much more intentional we have to be about our pursuit of God.
As always I hope this is encouraging to you all,
Much love, Ira.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Well Melanie wanted me to update this so here it is!!
We recently were given permission in writing to get a cat and our new cat's name is Kate because Melanie would not let me name her cat.
So I have been trying off and on to get back to a running routine unsuccessfully, I am realizing how much more I thrive when I have a running partner who pushes me and is in better shape than me. I went running the other night and it was 38 Degrees- I was wearing a couple of layers, a beanie and a face gator(cover for nose, mouth, and throat), and I ran about a mile and I was having a stabbing pain in my chest due to cold air and not being acclimated to running in those temperatures. I posted a question about it on runnersworld.com and I was pretty much told to suck it up by a bunch of northern runners who boasted about running in that temp wearing shorts and t-shirts. really encouraging- let me tell you.
However encouraging the response that I got online about my run, I am reminded how dependent we are on others for encouragement to grow spiritually as the Body of Christ. Hold on...don't stop reading just because it gets a bit spiritual. Seriously though when I am surrounded by friends who are seeking to grow deeper and stronger in their relationship as well as those who have traveled further than I have I am pushed onward even when said growth is painful or not exactly in my comfort zone.
With that said I am really enjoying the way our Sunday schoool is growing closer together recently which is giving Melanie and I a semblance of community which we crave. It is amazing how much encouragement spiritually which can be gained just by hanging out w/ people who are in a similar place as us.
The only thing I could desire more from sunday school would be if we could perhaps be more effective at reaching other young couples both in the church and Jonesboro. Both unchurched and those who just don't yet have a place to belong to experience the community which we are slowly building between each other which is quite refreshing.
well I guess I have rambled on enough- hope you are encouraged,
Much love, Ira.
So I have been trying off and on to get back to a running routine unsuccessfully, I am realizing how much more I thrive when I have a running partner who pushes me and is in better shape than me. I went running the other night and it was 38 Degrees- I was wearing a couple of layers, a beanie and a face gator(cover for nose, mouth, and throat), and I ran about a mile and I was having a stabbing pain in my chest due to cold air and not being acclimated to running in those temperatures. I posted a question about it on runnersworld.com and I was pretty much told to suck it up by a bunch of northern runners who boasted about running in that temp wearing shorts and t-shirts. really encouraging- let me tell you.
However encouraging the response that I got online about my run, I am reminded how dependent we are on others for encouragement to grow spiritually as the Body of Christ. Hold on...don't stop reading just because it gets a bit spiritual. Seriously though when I am surrounded by friends who are seeking to grow deeper and stronger in their relationship as well as those who have traveled further than I have I am pushed onward even when said growth is painful or not exactly in my comfort zone.
With that said I am really enjoying the way our Sunday schoool is growing closer together recently which is giving Melanie and I a semblance of community which we crave. It is amazing how much encouragement spiritually which can be gained just by hanging out w/ people who are in a similar place as us.
The only thing I could desire more from sunday school would be if we could perhaps be more effective at reaching other young couples both in the church and Jonesboro. Both unchurched and those who just don't yet have a place to belong to experience the community which we are slowly building between each other which is quite refreshing.
well I guess I have rambled on enough- hope you are encouraged,
Much love, Ira.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
how about updates?
So I have come to the point of realizing that I need to update after several prompts and several months...
Well since the last time I wrote we no longer have a cat. Life seems to be a blur of constant motion and as I think back over the past few months so much has happened, Melanie and I have been married for over a year and three months which just seems to get better. Melanie cannot wait to get out of married housing at WBC and is completely ready to graduate.
The couples retreat Melanie is planning is set to happen November 7-8 but not many people have signed up. It seems like it is going to be a great time of fun, fellowship, and growing together as couples and if anyone who reads this can come we would love for you to attend.
Work is going well, incredibly busy, but well including plenty of overtime which means more for the bills.
I am reading a book called "Soul Cravings" by Erwin Mcmanus which has been both encouraging and challenging. It has made the point that we as humans were designed to have dreams and to strive to obtain those dreams not just exist as animals. This idea really takes away any idea of just existing comfortly in complacency.
on another note my dad's B-day is next weekend and I am really looking foward to celebrating with Melanie, Dad, and Needie.
I guess I have really rambled enough and I hope that I have updated enough for everyone.
Well since the last time I wrote we no longer have a cat. Life seems to be a blur of constant motion and as I think back over the past few months so much has happened, Melanie and I have been married for over a year and three months which just seems to get better. Melanie cannot wait to get out of married housing at WBC and is completely ready to graduate.
The couples retreat Melanie is planning is set to happen November 7-8 but not many people have signed up. It seems like it is going to be a great time of fun, fellowship, and growing together as couples and if anyone who reads this can come we would love for you to attend.
Work is going well, incredibly busy, but well including plenty of overtime which means more for the bills.
I am reading a book called "Soul Cravings" by Erwin Mcmanus which has been both encouraging and challenging. It has made the point that we as humans were designed to have dreams and to strive to obtain those dreams not just exist as animals. This idea really takes away any idea of just existing comfortly in complacency.
on another note my dad's B-day is next weekend and I am really looking foward to celebrating with Melanie, Dad, and Needie.
I guess I have really rambled enough and I hope that I have updated enough for everyone.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
fast moving pace...
Well I thought it was about time to update this thing...Melanie and I have not been running in over a week ....we need to...just haven't felt like it. We started to go a couple of days ago and this little stray cat walked up and wouldn't leave us alone so we played with it for a bit and now I am afraid it has found a comfy residence on my front step. After feeding it for the last few days we have decided to claim it if it sticks around til next weekend....I named it "Teaser"...
Other than the cat the only news is that Ian is coming home next weekend and I am stoked because I haven't seen him since December. I am looking foward to hanging out with him and eating some ribs. Any way we are still praying and listening to make our decision about after Melanie graduates...remember us in your prayers.
Not much to say right now....leave me a comment if you wish...much love....Ira
Other than the cat the only news is that Ian is coming home next weekend and I am stoked because I haven't seen him since December. I am looking foward to hanging out with him and eating some ribs. Any way we are still praying and listening to make our decision about after Melanie graduates...remember us in your prayers.
Not much to say right now....leave me a comment if you wish...much love....Ira
Saturday, May 17, 2008
So How?
Melanie and I have been struggling with the state of our church now when it feels like a complete hoax, a social club, something which holds little substance. We had a very in depth conversation on how we should respond, how we could even attempt to change ourselves/ our church to become Kingdom focused instead of a self focused mess. I don't want us to be negative focused people who only see the bad of the church based on a bad experience in which people who claim to be the church are more interested in self-absorbed lives than giving up everything in pursuit of Christ. Maybe the problem is me, I am not sure, but I feel we should live for more than just nice lives with nice stuff. Do we just hop to the next church thinking that things will certainly be better. A church is supposed to embody a fellowship of like-minded believers who are seeking out Christ and making him known. I know we are not the only ones sick of this "American Church" that plays the guilty party which most of this generation states that they do not have a problem with Jesus, but they do have a problem with the church. How do we change both in ourselves and how do we push our brothers and sisters in Christ to seek first his kingdom and forsake the pointless things and hopes of this world and begin to actually start behaving like we actually believe what we say that " Jesus is the only way and that he loves people and we seek his return because that is all we really long for"
So How and when and where does this change begin, in me and in the body of believers?
Ira
So How and when and where does this change begin, in me and in the body of believers?
Ira
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