9 HIM jumped up out of bed to take on this beautiful morning with a nice run, fellowship and to deepen our faith. @Clipart, @Dizzy Gillespie (F3 Dads), @Blackout, @Joey Freshwater, @Chowdah – Community Outreach, @MapQuest, @Snooki, @Billy Madison, @tic tac (who technically jumped out of the rec center pool and not bed) and YHC @Timeshare.
Circle up and head down Commonwealth to see our Brothers at AO-Tribute. Run a few laps down there, make them comfortable, then @tic tac capture their flag, run like heck back up to Longview while we cover the escape. Only problem was…THERE WAS NO FLAG (possible mole?)!!!! So change of plans, redirect to Miles Johnson, run the back way back to Longview, put a few laps on that track, then circle up for COT. Really great chats going on along the way too. Probably funniest was when @Joey Freshwater told the story of buying a pair of shoes at Fleet Feet only to realize 6+ months later while bending over, that one show was a size bigger than the other. :joy:
COT
Announcements
@Dizzy Gillespie (F3 Dads) new AO this Friday at Evans Park
Nov. 30th #ao-tribute and #ao-uprising will combine at Harvey Park led by @Hot Mic (Tribute) for an all running work out. I’ve had a work trip just come up and cannot attend.
This Saturday Arrington trip with the Ms. Child service available. (Not sure who?)
Turkey Path CSAUP on Thanksgiving
F3 Muletown launch this Saturday
Pray Requests
Very difficult situation for @Chowdah – Community Outreach brother and family with runaway teenage niece
@Dizzy Gillespie (F3 Dads) Ms ultrasound today.
@Dizzy Gillespie (F3 Dads) upcoming 10K and 5K
Moleskin
I took this from Church a few weeks ago. It just really resonated with me given the time of year. Both in the spiritual and physical sense. It’s followed with a reflection from Bishop Barren and some of my own thoughts.
Mark 12
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Bishop Barren
Friends, today we read about the poor widow who gave her all to the Lord. Her simple generosity, her offering of her whole livelihood, was a response to God’s unconditional love. God’s love comes first. When we get this wrong, everything else in the spiritual life is thrown off-kilter. Listen to how St. John expresses this love of predilection: “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as the expiation for our sins.”
If we play the game of loving God in order to get God to love us, then we are lost. If we think that we can earn salvation or we can work our way into God’s heart, then we are lost. Here’s a way to think about it: we wouldn’t exist were it not for God’s love. God needs nothing; therefore, whatever exists outside of God exists because God desires some good for it. Love precedes, therefore, our intelligence, our courage, our wills, our designs and purposes, indeed, our very existence.
Me
If we do our best to put God first, our actions follow. Your actions become an expression of Gods love. Giving doesn’t have to be monetary. It shouldn’t be given with an expectation of repayment. We all have talents. Talents that can be given willingly and freely with the only expectation of giving in the name of love.
Thanks for allowing me to lead today men. SYITG