Thinking on these things . . .

By the time I get to worship this morning, half the world will have already lifted their hearts to God... I realized this as I woke at 5 a.m thinking of a friend who, in Eastern standard time, was already leading his church in worship. In another hour my home church, in Central standard time, would be coming before the throne with praise.  I, being in Hawaiian-Aleutian time, would not be joining the celebration for another five hours but when the time came I'd be there with lifted heart and hands. It's not unlike "the wave" popular at any large event.  Someone begins by standing up and raising their hands over their head and then they bring down their hands and sit back down and the one next to them repeats the motion until it's moved throughout the entire crowd. It's silly but it's a lot of fun and, to see that many people participating to make something bigger than themselves, it's pretty great.  "From the rising of the sun to its settin

As I was out running  jogging shuffling along the other day I was thinking about endurance training and faith and wondering if there was a correlation. As one trains they build muscle and endurance - I should know as I was into the second week of a running program (well, technically I was repeating week one for the second time as I still couldn't make the measly goals of the first week ...!)  I could tell I was stronger (i.e. I rivaled my dog in panting ability now after 8 minutes and not just 3) so the idea made sense to me.  If I have stepped out in faith and trusted God before it would seem that it would be easier the next time. After all God is faithful and unchanging; the more I rely on Him the more I realize that He is worthy of  my trust and that confidence in Him is well placed. So, if one had lived a life of faith, of consistently relying on God through all the small things and the daily battles: when the big tests would come, the marathon of faith so to spe