Daily Reading Efforts - June 2021

06/30/2021
Finding My Way Home:  A Journey To Discover Hope And A Life Of Purpose (Pages 7-112)

Twelfth Man In The Huddle (Pages 133-145, Chapter 13, Calvin Jones)

06/29/2021

Didn't See That Coming:  Putting Life Back Together When Your World Falls Apart (Pages 107-166)
The Relational Leader:  A Parable Of Business Success (Pages 17-46)
Twelfth Man In The Huddle (Pages 117-132, Chapter 12, John Small)

06/28/2021

God Is Your Defender:  Learning To Stand After Life Has Knocked You Down (Pages 143-225)
The Relational Leader:  A Parable Of Business Success (Pages 1-16)
The Unsaved Christian:  Reaching Cultural Christianity With The Gospel (Pages 43-54)

06/27/2021
Brother's Keeper:  The Story of the 2009 Abilene High State Championship (Pages 91-166)
God Is Your Defender:  Learning To Stand After Life Has Knocked You Down (Pages 66-142)
The Unsaved Christian:  Reaching Cultural Christianity With The Gospel (Pages 1-42)

06/26/2021
Brother's Keeper:  The Story of the 2009 Abilene High State Championship (Pages 38-90)
God Is Your Defender:  Learning To Stand After Life Has Knocked You Down (Pages 34-65)

The Listening Road:  One Man's Ride Across America To Start Conversations About God (Pages 273-303)

06/25/2021
The Listening Road:  One Man's Ride Across America To Start Conversations About God (Pages 233-272)

06/24/2021
The Heart of Alpine:  The Story of the 2019 Pecos League Champions (Pages 74-146)

The Listening Road:  One Man's Ride Across America To Start Conversations About God (Pages 171-232)

06/23/2021
Lead With Love (Pages 24-26; It Is Well)

The Listening Road:  One Man's Ride Across America To Start Conversations About God (Pages 118-170)

06/22/2021
The Listening Road:  One Man's Ride Across America To Start Conversations About God (Pages 71-117)

06/21/2021
Brother's Keeper:  The Story of the 2009 Abilene High State Championship (Pages 4-37)
The Listening Road:  One Man's Ride Across America To Start Conversations About God (Pages 33-70)

06/20/2021
The Listening Road:  One Man's Ride Across America To Start Conversations About God (Pages 1-32)

Two Hours:  The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon (Pages 153-223)

06/19/2021

Two Hours:  The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon (Pages 141-152)

06/18/2021

The Heart of Alpine:  The Story of the 2019 Pecos League Champions (Pages 46-73)

Twelve Mighty Orphans:  The Inspiring True Story Of The Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football (Pages 266-279)

06/17/2021

100 Ways To Overcome Depression* (6; Draw Close to God)
Lead With Love (Pages 21-23, Don't Swap Gold For Bronze)
Twelve Mighty Orphans:  The Inspiring True Story Of The Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football (Pages 224-265)

06/16/2021

Twelve Mighty Orphans:  The Inspiring True Story Of The Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football (Pages 184-223)

06/15/2021

100 Ways To Overcome Depression* (5; Draw Close to God)
Blood, Blisters, and Blasphemy:  The First Texas Water Safari (Pages I-V, 1-83)

God Is Your Defender:  Learning To Stand After Life Has Knocked You Down (Pages 1-33)
Oh Brother, How They Played The Game:  The Story of Texas' Greatest All-Brothers Baseball Team (Pages 62-80)
The Joy of Living (Page 19; Love Life and Life Will Love You Back)
Thinking while Walking:  Reflections on the Pacific Crest Trail (Pages ix-xi)
Twelfth Man In The Huddle (Pages 107-116, Chapter 11, Ron Pritchard)
Twelve Mighty Orphans:  The Inspiring True Story Of The Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football (Pages 180-183)

06/14/2021
Brother's Keeper:  The Story of the 2009 Abilene High State Championship (Pages 2-3)

God Is Your Defender:  Learning To Stand After Life Has Knocked You Down (Pages xi-xxvi)

Oh Brother, How They Played The Game:  The Story of Texas' Greatest All-Brothers Baseball Team (Pages 1-61)
The Heart of Alpine:  The Story of the 2019 Pecos League Champions (Pages 1-45)

06/13/2021
Twelve Mighty Orphans:  The Inspiring True Story Of The Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football (Pages 46-179)

06/12/2021
Twelve Mighty Orphans:  The Inspiring True Story Of The Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football (Pages 1-45)

06/11/2021

100 Ways To Overcome Depression* (4; Draw Close to God)

God And The Pandemic:  A Christian Reflection On The Coronavirus And Its Aftermath (Pages 70-76)

06/10/2021
God And The Pandemic:  A Christian Reflection On The Coronavirus And Its Aftermath (Pages 55-69)

06/09/2021
God And The Pandemic:  A Christian Reflection On The Coronavirus And Its Aftermath (Pages 48-54)
Lead With Love (Pages 18-20, Like The Moon)
The Best American Sports Writing 2002 (Pages 1-9, Her Blue Haven, Bill Plaschke)
Two Hours:  The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon (Pages 108-140)

06/08/2021
Corona Crisis:  Plagues, Pandemics, And The Coming Apocalypse (Pages 90-141)
Twelfth Man In The Huddle (Pages 98-106, Chapter 10, Winston Hill)

06/07/2021
Corona Crisis:  Plagues, Pandemics, And The Coming Apocalypse (Pages ix-xv, 1-89)

06/06/2021 - Nothing

06/05/2021

God And The Pandemic:  A Christian Reflection On The Coronavirus And Its Aftermath (Pages 1-47)

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?:  Surviving A Relationship With A Narcissist (Pages 1-53)

Two Hours:  The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon (Pages 90-107)

06/04/2021

100 Ways To Overcome Depression* (3; Draw Close to God)
Our Life On The Run (Pages 65-71, Chapters 16-17; Missouri, Kentucky)
The Joy of Living (Page 16-18; Vitality)

Two Hours:  The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon(Pages 56-89)

06/03/2021

100 Ways To Overcome Depression* (2; Draw Close to God)
If Anyone Calls, Tell Them I Died (Pages 81-109)
Lead With Love (Pages 16-17, Cleansing Thoughts)
Our Life On The Run (Pages 59-64, Chapters 15; Alaska)
The Joy of Living (Page 14-15, My Grandmother's Cookie Jar)
Twelfth Man In The Huddle (Pages 92-97, Chapter 9, Jeff Siemon)

06/02/2021
100 Ways To Overcome Depression* (1; Draw Close to God)
Lead With Love (Pages 13-15, Wings Like Eagles)

Our Life On The Run (Pages 51-58, Chapters 13-14; Nevada, Tennessee)
The Best American Sports Writing 2002 (Pages x-xxi)
Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home (Pages 145-206)
Twelfth Man In The Huddle (Pages 80-91, Chapter 8, Roger Staubach)

06/01/2021
The Joy of Living (Pages 1-13)

Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home (Pages 107-144)

* Am not depressed.  Just some reminders for a season of life that I just came out of.  :-)

Miles and Miles - 05/25/21 to 06/24/21

Tracking my efforts in 2021:

May 25 - June 24 - 41.02 miles - 126.08 miles walking - 36.63 miles walking (Apple Health) - 139.5 miles cycling - 23,383 meters rowing

May 25 (Tuesday) -- 4 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:01:12.87) - 10.2 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:26) - 1,854 meters rowing (10:00) - 1.2 miles walking (Apple Health)
May 26 (Wednesday) -- 8 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (59:26.25 and 1:01:20.10) - 10.1 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (29:25) - 2,098 meters rowing (11:00) - 2.2 miles walking (Apple Health)

May 27 (Thursday) -- 4.03 miles walking in the Hannover Forest subdivision (1:02:01.68) - 10 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (28:46) - 2,265 meters rowing (12:00) - 0.97 miles walking (Apple Health)

May 28 (Friday) - 1.4 miles walking (Apple Health)

May 29 (Saturday) - 4.1 miles at Cibolo Crossing Stampede 5K, including one-mile warmup (30:42.09) and 5.85 miles in four different Texas cities (1:01:43.61) - 2.55 miles walking (Apple Health)
May 30 (Sunday) - 6.2 miles at Bad Ass Texas 10K, Waco (1:08:58.46) - 4.05 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (59:37.60) - 1.55 miles walking (Apple Health)
May 31 (Monday) - 3.1 miles at Seven Hills Running Club Memorial Day 5K (30:44.25) - 10 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (29:36) - 4 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:00:53.93) - 2.3 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 1 (Tuesday) - 10 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (29:46) - 1:15 plank - 25 situps - 1,938 meters rowing (10:02) - 4 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:01:19.77) - 1.9 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 2 (Wednesday) - 1:30 plank - 35 situps - 2,370 meters rowing (12:00) - 10.3 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:09) - 3 miles walking in the Hannover Forest subdivision (44:18.24) - 0.3 miles walking (Apple Health)

June 3 (Thursday) - 1:30 plank - 40 situps - 2,852 meters rowing (15:00) - 10.5 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (31:26) - 4 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:00:54.54) - 0.79 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 4 (Friday) - 10 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:00) - 3.04 miles walking in Waxahachie (45:56.72) - 0.56 miles (Apple Health)

June 5 (Saturday) - 1.07 mile warmup (11:17) and 3.1 miles (30:32.79) at Zebra Dash 5K, Grandview - 3.13 miles (Apple Health) 

June 6 (Sunday) - 1 mile warmup and 3.2 miles (31:41.80) at 41st annual Dairy Debra 5K, Windthorst - 4 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway with Waverly (1:00:57.87) - 2.2 miles walking (Apple Health)

June 7 (Monday) - 5,006 meters rowing (25:57) - 10 miles on Air Assault bike (29:41) - 4 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:00:27.47) - 0.5 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 8 (Tuesday) - 1:30 plank - 42 situps - 5,000 meters rowing (26:12) - 10 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (29:33) - 4 miles along The Woodlands Waterway (1:01:22.06) - 1.8 miles walking (Apple Health)

June 9 (Wednesday) - 3.99 miles walking in the Hannover Forest subdivision (58:42) - 10 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (30:14) - 0.61 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 10 (Thursday) - 6.09 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1;29:16) - 0.71 miles walking (Apple Health)

June 11 (Friday) - 5.54 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:21:37) - 1.46 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 12 (Saturday) - 6.2 miles at Running of the Blueberries 10K, Nacogdoches, TX (1:07:43) - 0.88 miles walking (Apple Health)

June 13 (Sunday) - 7.33 miles walking in the area surrounding The Woodlands Waterway (1:46:59) - 0.47 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 14 (Monday) - 1.59 miles walking to get car from Green and White (22:28) - 4 miles along The Woodlands Waterway (1:01:01) - 1.11 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 15 (Tuesday) - 4.31 miles walking in the Hannover Forest subdivision (1:03:40) - 11.6 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (34:34) - 0.59 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 16 (Wednesday) - 6.14 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:28:12) - 0.56 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 17 (Thursday) - 3.1 miles at Millican Summer Series 5K #2, College Station, TX (40:11.49) - 0.86 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 18 (Friday) - 6.14 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:30:00) - 0.56 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 19 (Saturday) - 3.1 miles at Watermelon Crawl 5K, Stockdale, TX (30:03.39) plus 1 mile warmup (10:12) - 2.4 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 20 (Sunday) - 8.73 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (2:06:24) - 0.57 miles walking (Apple Health)

June 21 (Monday) - 5.86 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:22:33) - 0.44 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 22 (Tuesday) - 5.99 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:28:12) - 0.51 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 23 (Wednesday) - 2.01 miles walking in Hannover Forest subdivision (30:06) and 3.91 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (56:32) - 0.88 miles walking (Apple Health)
June 24 (Thursday) - 16.8 miles cycling on Air Assault bike (48:33) - 4.33 miles walking along The Woodlands Waterway (1:03:32) - 0.57 miles walking (Apple Health)

Checkpoint; June 15, 2021

So after many, many months, it has kind of boiled down to this:  There's a person that it is just not healthy for me to be around in any way, shape or form.

They belong to an athletic group, of whom there are many people that I enjoy and consider friends and is led by an individual that I have considered to be one of my best friends.

There have been some actions taken by the person that isn't healthy for me toward me that has put me in a position to not be able to support the group that they belong to, nor be near them collectively.

I want the best for the individual and pray for them as often as I can, especially when I'm out brisk walking.  I ask God to meet their needs and help them where they are willing to accept it.

I wish no ill will toward anybody, but I have to take actions to protect me, especially mentally.

Our definitions of friendship differed.  Greatly.  There was an unwillingness to discuss any issues.

Without options, I have been left with no choice but to separate and withhold support to the group that they belong to and where their behavior and actions are validated and left unchecked.  Leadership is aware.

I have been seeking Godly counsel and I'm thankful for a friend who has stepped up and provided sound spiritual guidance and direction and came rushing in when others have left.

I only hope that others never have to experience the things that I did which could have been resolved by one being responsive, honest and forthright, instead of being unresponsive and unwilling to act in a professional, constructive manner.

I'm working on taking care of me, even if it is just by myself for the majority of the time.

Please keep all involved in your prayers if and when you pray.  I know I would appreciate it.

Working On Me; June 4, 2021

I get a lot of input related to my most recent situation that I'm continuing to work on overcoming.

One Instagram post this morning said, "There's no such thing as "staying friends" with a narcissist.  They have never been and will never be your friend.  They are your enemy."

Enemy is a strong word, but I totally agree with that now.

I used to like to think that they wanted real friendship, but that's just not the truth.  If so, there would have been an effort to make it happen.

And what's happened lately is that I have problems with those who support and embolden them because it just enables their behavior.

However, I also read this morning Psalm 37 in a visual read in an Instagram post.

I like the interpretation on Wikipedia.  It is as follows:

Psalm 37 is a response to the problem of evil, which the Old Testament often expresses as a question: why do the wicked prosper and the good suffer? In the New American Bible, Revised Edition, published by the Catholic Church in the USA, the psalm answers that this situation is only temporary: God will reverse things, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked here on earth.[1] This interpretation is shared by Protestants. Matthew Henry calls it David's call to patience and confidence in God by the state of the godly and the wicked.[3] Charles Spurgeon calls it "the great riddle of the prosperity of the wicked and the affliction of the righteous".[2]

It is written as an acrostic and divided into discrete sections. Each section ends with God's resolution of the question.[2]

The psalm has also been understood as a prayer of the persecuted who has taken refuge in the temple or figuratively of refuge in God. The psalm concludes with a plea to God for those who honor him, to bless them with his justice and to protect them from the snares of the wicked.[4]

KSBJ had a nice post this morning:  "God isn't asking you to figure it out.  He's just asking you to trust that He already has."

Which I have to do better in trusting and believing in that.

I'm also starting to work through a book that I've had on my shelf for a long time.

It is called "100 Ways To Overcome Depression".

I'm not saying right now that I am, but I recently was.  In fact, there were some pertty dark moments.

Today's item referenced Psalm 73:25-26 that said that "...but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."

The writer said that "the heart is the seat of the mind, emotions and will" and that if one turns their heart over to God He will be their portion forever.

If you're reading, have a great weekend!

Appreciating My Daughter; June 3, 2021

You have to really love it when your child looks after you when you least expect it.

That's what I have in my daughter, and I am greatly appreciative of it.

I can attest - as I have a largely front row seat to it as she still lives at home (something that is offered to her to save money, especially as she begins grad school) - that she is a fully committed Christ believer and follower.  I believe, for sure, but don't follow as well as I should.

Almost three weeks ago, she saw something that just didn't seem totally right.

She was hesitant to share it with me, but I'm glad that she did.

It was the catalyst to so many things, along with the faith-based help that I was getting from one of Texas' top female masters runners.

She also, as a result of reading Lysa Terkhurst's book, "Forgiving What You Can't Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That's Beautiful Again", clued me in Tuesday of a podcast that Terkhurst and her ministry produced.

It was part of a Series entitled "Therapy & Theology", but the specific podcast from December 8, 2020 was on "Addressing Codependency".

The podcast was extremely relevant and supported the actions that I have taken in the past nearly three weeks.

The moves are actually more extreme than in the past and are those that I have to keep in place for a much longer time I believe.

I'm also starting to go through chapter by chapter of "Lead With Love:  Embracing Greater Purpose, Passion, Perseverance & Perspective".

Today's chapter was on "Cleansing Thoughts".

I had mentioned to the friend that is helping me on Sunday in a communication with her that I've been working hard on stopping the tapes from playing over in my head.

Page 16 of "Lead With Love" stated some of the following:

"Deflecting The Negative:  This is how we must address the sin and negative thoughts in our life."

"It's reminding myself that through God's grace, in my salvation through Christ, I am already fully cleansed."

"The other thing we need to remember is seeking to avoid the muck and grime of sin and fear that surrounds us."

For me it isn't so much fear, but the muck.

"It's blocking or looking away from the ever-present slew of angry or inappropriate posts on social media."

Blocking, unfortunately, is a necessity when dealing with those who add no real, lasting value in your life.

"Find your own ways to be cleansed.  Ask yourself what really "fills your cup" with positivity, love, hope and purpose.  Spend more time with those who lift you up.  Seek more of God in your life on a daily basis and you too will wash away all the unnecessary filth that is holding you back."

So, to my daughter and a good friend and, of course, God, thank you.

Daily Reading Efforts - May 2021

05/31/2021
Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home (Pages 87-106)

05/30/2021
A Most Beautiful Thing:  The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team (Pages 171-229)
If Anyone Calls, Tell Them I Died (Pages 41-80)

05/29/2021 - Nothing
05/28/2021 - Nothing

05/27/2021
A Most Beautiful Thing:  The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team (Pages 141-170)
If Anyone Calls, Tell Them I Died (Pages 15-40)

05/26/2021

A Most Beautiful Thing:  The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team (Pages 113-140)

05/25/2021

A Most Beautiful Thing:  The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team (Pages 71-112)

05/24/2021
A Most Beautiful Thing:  The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team (Pages 68-70)

05/23/2021
"Nerves Of Steel:  Lessons That MS Taught Me" by Trace J. Sherer with Candi S. Cross

Running With Raven:  The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired (Pages 174-225)

05/22/2021
Running With Raven:  The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired (Pages 142-173)

05/21/2021
Running With Raven:  The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired (Pages 130-141)
The Gift of Forgiveness:  Inspiring Stories from Those Who Have Overcome the Unforgivable (Pages 189-210)

05/20/2021
Running With Raven:  The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired (Pages 123-129)

05/19/2021

Running With Raven:  The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired (Pages 111-122)

05/18/2021

Running With Raven:  The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired (Pages 86-110)

05/17/2021

A Most Beautiful Thing:  The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team (Pages 45-67)

05/16/2021

Running With Raven:  The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired (Pages 69-85)

The Gift of Forgiveness:  Inspiring Stories from Those Who Have Overcome the Unforgivable (Pages 153-188)

05/15/2021

Running With Raven:  The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired (Pages 57-68)

The Gift of Forgiveness:  Inspiring Stories from Those Who Have Overcome the Unforgivable (Pages 74-152)

Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home (Pages 67-86)

05/14/2021
Didn't See That Coming:  Putting Life Back Together When Your World Falls Apart (Pages 67-109)

Two Hours (Pages 42-55)

05/13/2021 - Nothing

05/12/2021

Running With Raven:  The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired (Pages 15-56)
The Gift of Forgiveness:  Inspiring Stories from Those Who Have Overcome the Unforgivable (Pages 63-73)

05/11/2021
A Most Beautiful Thing:  The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team (Pages 36-44)
Our Life On The Run (Pages 46-50)
Running With Raven:  The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired (Pages 12-14)

05/10/2021 
Running With Raven:  The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired (Pages ix-xxv, 1-11)
The Gift of Forgiveness:  Inspiring Stories from Those Who Have Overcome the Unforgivable (Pages 47-62)
Twelfth Man In The Huddle (Pages 69-79)

05/09/2021

If Anyone Calls, Tell Them I Died (Pages 1-14)

Our Life On The Run (Pages 30-45)
The Gift of Forgiveness:  Inspiring Stories from Those Who Have Overcome the Unforgivable (Pages 33-46)

Twelfth Man In The Huddle (Pages 61-68)

Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home (Pages 40-66)

Two Hours (Pages 1-41)

05/08/2021 - Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home (Pages 15-39)

05/07/2021
Lead With Love:  Embracing Greater Purpose, Passion, Perseverance & Perspective (Pages 1-12)
Our Life On The Run (Pages 25-29)
Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home (Pages 11-14)

05/06/2021

A Most Beautiful Thing:  The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team (Pages 27-35)

Didn't See That Coming:  Putting Life Back Together When Your World Falls Apart (Pages 47-66)

The Gift of Forgiveness:  Inspiring Stories from Those Who Have Overcome the Unforgivable (Pages 23-32)

Twelfth Man In The Huddle (Pages 51-60)

05/05/2021 - Nothing
05/04/2021 - What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (Pages 146-180)
05/03/2021 - What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (Pages 140-145)
05/02/2021 - Nothing
05/01/2021 - Nothing