Lifetime Commitment

Today brought another great quote from Runner's World:

My running ambition is to keep doing it until I'm way past the point where I have any business running. Just to keep doing it throughout my whole life—to stay fit and feel good.
~ Leroy Chiao, astronaut and runner

I don't know how old Leroy Chiao is and it doesn't matter! Age is just a state of mind. I've read quite a bit lately about "older" athletes, some even over the age of 40! Ha!


It's funny how we view age and aging. First, we're too young. Then somewhere around 20-25 we're finally old enough. Then come 40, it's over the hill! Who decided that, anyway??

There are so many Biblical examples of people doing great things at all ages. Young men like Joseph, David, and King Josiah who was 8! Older folks like Abraham and Sarah, Anna the prophetess, Caleb who 85! And people every age in between.

What matters is a lifetime commitment to staying strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

Mileage Update

Unlike most of the country, we had very warm weather this week. Of course warm weather in January = Santa Ana winds. Ugh! I know I've written about these winds a time or two or twenty, they are a fact of life here. But at least it's not 15 inches of snow! My hats off to anyone who exercises in January.

I liked this quote from Runner's World:

Running is a passion for me. I like to set new challenges for myself. The cool thing is, it's something you do yourself. I don't have 10 other guys blocking for me. I would love to have 10 other guys out there blocking for me, but it doesn't work that way. It's all about you.
~ Roger Craig, Former NFL running back

I could have used 10 other guys blocking the wind this week, but it was just me and my sweetie!

Totals for Week ending January 29:
Running: 30.34
Cycling: 34.42
Total: 64.76

Year-to-Date:
Running: 133.76
Cycling: 97.02
Total: 230.78

Friday Foodie

I tried a new WW recipe this week and I'm going to tell you up front - the results were a little disappointing! It was for Pesto Sauce, which is traditionally very high in fat, so I was happy to try a low-fat option. It was definitely low-fat, just not as tasty!! I will probably tweak it next time, using a little more olive oil and less chicken broth.

WW Pesto Sauce

2 Tbsp pine nuts
2 cup(s) basil, leaves, fresh
1/2 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), peeled
1/2 tsp table salt

Instructions
Place pine nuts in a small skillet and set pan over medium heat. Cook until nuts are golden, shaking pan frequently to prevent burning, about 3 minutes. Transfer nuts to a plate to cool.

In a blender or food processor, combine nuts, basil, broth, cheese, oil, garlic and salt; process until smooth and thick. Yields about 1/4 cup per serving.

Nutritional info: 115 calories / 6.5 g protein / 0.3 g carbs / 10.5 g fat / 0 g fiber / 3 WW Points Plus per serving.

Noah's Ark

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark


ONE: Don't miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat!
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
SIX: Build your future on high ground.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile.
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

Whatcha Thinking 'Bout?

Yesterday's verse of the day is one of my favorites! Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things.

Now let's turn it around...

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are false,
whatsoever things are a lie,
whatsoever things are unjust,
whatsoever things are impure,
whatsoever things are ugly,
whatsoever things are of bad report;
if there is no virtue, and if there is no praise,
DON'T think on these things.

So I'll ask again... whatcha thinking 'bout??

Family Reunion and Revival

We've received some exciting emails from Les' cousin, Barb Abernathy. The family gathering was during the week of Thanksgiving, November 2010. Les and I were not in attendance, but many family members were.

January 3, 2011:

Just wanted you to know the wonderful benefits of our family gathering at the State Park in Wewahitchka this year. Aunt Dolly and others witnessed to a couple who were actually living there after losing their jobs with a traveling carnival group. Arrangements were made for them to be picked up for Sunday School by Bro. Mahan and taken to church in Panama City . The woman has not missed a single Sunday service and the man has been there several times too. This past Sunday, the woman talked to ladies in the church and stated that she wants to be baptized! Thank you family for being an ever present witness and showing kindness to those in need. God has truly used you to impact these lives!

Today:

The church in Panama City wanted everyone to know that the lady from the campground in Wewa was baptized this past Sunday (along with 3 others)! They are very excited and feel the husband is very close to being ready for baptism too. What an exciting result from our family being sensitive and helping those in need!

Proof that you can never take a vacation from being a Christian!

Whew! Kind of Weekend

It's been a little busy here the last couple of days. But busy in a great way! It kinda started Thursday night. We switched our midweek service to Thursday last week - Bro. John Padgett from Enterprise, Alabama was here. He preached to our church Thursday night, but was really here to preach our Fellowship meeting on Saturday.


Our choir was on the schedule to sing at the Fellowship meeting, so we met for practice at 3:00. Service started at 4:00. Bro. Padgett preached about living by faith. He talked about those who died in the faith. "You can't die in the faith if you don't live by faith." Bro. Padgett gave so many examples of God coming through for him. It was a great faith building message! After a great altar time, we enjoyed a time of fellowship and by the time it was all said and done, we got home about 9:30!

Bro. Padgett preached again on Sunday morning and there was a great move of the Holy Ghost in that service.

Sunday night, Les and I went to Faith Tabernacle in Thousand Oaks. Les preached about moving from the Wilderness to the Promise Land. In case you're wondering, the Promise Land is not heaven - it means to live in victory right here! We love Pastor and Sister Prather and the saints of Faith Tabernacle and were glad to be there with them.


There's just something about being physically tired but spiritually revived that makes Monday a great day! Hope your Sunday was just as blessed!

Mileage Update

I tried something different this week. Two of the mornings that I rode my bike, I went running first. This warmed my legs up and I made better time riding. I also rode my bike three times, which is a goal I've been working on. Total miles this week was more than 30 miles more than last week! Here's how I accomplished that:

Sunday:
Ran - 8.49

Monday:
Ran - 7.14
Rode - 12.14

Tuesday:
Ran - 8.15

Wednesday:
Rode - 15.92

Thursday:
Ran - 7.24

Friday
REST!

Saturday
Ran - 6.02
Rode - 10.20

Totals for Week ending January 22:
Running: 37.04
Cycling: 38.25
Total: 75.29

Year-to-Date:
Running: 103.42
Cycling: 62.60
Total: 166.02

Friday Foodie

I tried a super easy recipe this week. Our WW leader told us about it before Christmas and I finally decided to give it a try. Just three ingredients!

Catalina Chicken


2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup fat free dressing
8 oz. can crushed pineapple

1. Cut chicken breasts in half. Flatten chicken to uniform thickness.
2. Pour dressing in 8 x 8 pan
3. Add chicken and coat on both sides with dressing.
4. Top with pineapple.
5. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

This was so good! The chicken was very tender and juicy. It was also good as leftovers. There are a lot of Catalina Chicken recipes out there, but none any easier than this!

Nutritional info: 142 calories / 12 g protein / 11 g carbs / 1.5 g fat / 0 g fiber / 3 WW PointsPlus. Serves 4

Hold on to Your Hat!

What a weather week we're having! (Now say that five times fast!)

Monday was like a summer day - it was in the 70s while we were riding our bikes and we had a high of 91.


Tuesday was normal and yesterday was more like "winter" - about 48 when I got up to ride, completely calm.

Now today... today is a different story! It was 58 at 5:30 with howling winds! Gusting up to 35 MPH. More than once while I was running a gust of wind would grab my hat and yank it right off my head!!


I thought it was fitting that my Verse of the Day is James 1:2-3:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

God's Word translation puts it this way: "My brothers and sisters, be very happy when you are tested in different ways. You know that such testing of your faith produces endurance."

Life is general is so much like the weather! We can check the forecast, but even knowing the forecast doesn't change the weather. Just as running in the wind produces endurance physically, pressing on through times of testing will produce endurance spiritually.

What happens around us in largely outside our control, but how we choose to react to it is inside our control. We can throw our hands up in defeat or we can choose to trust God for his solution.
~ Mom's Bible

First Trophy of 2011

Look what was in my email today:


Congratulations on completing 30 in 30 Run Challenge!

You've been awarded a trophy for completing this challenge! The goal of this Challenge was to travel a total of 30.00 mi..

Yes, I've already run 30 miles since Saturday. And I'm more than a fourth of the way to my 100 miles of biking! The prizes include: $50 REI gift card, $250 VISA gift card, Apple iPad and much more!!

Aha Moment!

I should know this by now. I really should.

Yesterday afternoon, around 2:00, I was hungry. Not famished, but hungry. Les said, "Eat something healthy." I thought about having a yogurt, when it hit me:

I can have a banana for ZERO points!!!

Yep. I had the banana.

I should know this by now. I really should.

She's At It Again!

Our niece, Hannah, is in her second year of Bible Quizzing. Her first tournament was over the weekend. Here is the report from her dad:

This weekend was our first Junior quiz tournament of 2011. Hannah has moved up to Juniors from Beginners due to her age. She's now with 9 - 11 year olds. Her teammates are also 9 year olds that were on her Beginner team last year. Best of all, her dad gets to coach the team!

There were 10 teams at the tournament, and we ended up 2nd place. We won 4 quizzes and lost both times to a team from Racine WI that was very good. They have a 10 and 11 year old that interrupt every question. Nevertheless, I was very proud of our kids.

Hannah finished with the 3rd highest individual scoring average behind the two kids from Racine. Hannah had a teammate who was 5th highest.

As always, I'm very proud of her....and mostly because she learned all 80 of her required verses for this tournament. That will be the biggest challenge this year, as there are 100 more verse than Beginner division. I don't expect we'll learn it all this year - but only because Dad won't have the time.

Way to go, Hannah!

I've Been Buried in the Name of the Lord!

40 years ago today, three little Fultz kids stepped into the baptismal tank in Truth Tabernacle. We were still having church in what is now the school cafeteria. It was on a chilly night that our pastor, Bro. Murray Layne, consented to baptize us in the name above all names - Jesus! If I remember correctly, the boys went first. Then Debbie Lindley-Franklin and I were next.

Rick has just turned 10...


Rod was 7...


and I was 6...


I had been "baptized" many times in our swimming pool, but I knew what Acts 2:38 said and I wanted to obey! It's been 40 years, but I still believe that my sins were washed away that night and I'm so glad!

Must Read!

This is a must read for every saint. Your Pastor and his wife will thank you!

When Is It A Bad Time To Call Your Pastor?

2011 Mileage

Once again I've decided to post my mileage for the year. I've added it to my sidebar and will update each Saturday.

Here is this week's:
Running: 29.50
Cycling: 14.30
Total: 43.80

Year-to-Date:
Running: 66.38
Cycling: 24.35
Total: 90.73


I'm really wondering if I can hit 3,000 miles this year. I know that sounds crazy, but it's an average of about 60 miles a week or 250 miles a month. If I can ride 40 and run 20, I'll do it! And just to make things interesting (and hopefully get my riding miles up), I signed up for the "30 Day Century Challenge" at MapMyRide.com. I'll be logging every ride and hope to ride 100 miles in 30 days!


Interested in upping your activity? Check out the other Challenges - Commit to Fit, Walk a Marathon in 30 Days, and 30 in 30 (run 30 miles in 30 days, for which I also signed up). Give it a try, it's free and there are cool prizes to be won!

Happy Friday!

You're Smarter Than Them!

We had an excellent speaker at our monthly Youth Service last night - Pastor White! He started with the old quote: "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog" and talked to our young people about needing to have the fight in them to live for God.

He ended his message with three verses from Psalm 119:

98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

I love these verses! Pastor White told our youth to put them in their backpacks! What great promises for anyone attending school with unbelieving teachers or professors. His Word makes us wiser and gives us more understanding than any degree man can bestow upon us!

Make the Mind Take Over!

Today's Quote of the Day from Runner's World magazine is a good one!

Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired. When you were younger the mind could make you dance all night, and the body was never tired...You've always got to make the mind take over and keep going.

~ George S. Patton, U.S. Army General and 1912 Olympian

The question is - who's in charge here? Is your mind stronger than your body? I was reading about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians yesterday:

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

None of these come naturally. They must be cultivated. Our mind must take over the flesh and make it love others. It's much easier to be down in the dumps, harsh, and faithless. Paul understood that, he tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:27 "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

Just as it's a battle to maintain a healthy body, so must we work daily to maintain a healthy spirit. But the prize is worth it!

Happy Birthday, Rick!

Please take a stroll down memory lane with me today as my brother turns 50!!!


In our family that always means "half a hundred"



I will never regret scanning our family pictures...

I feel so blessed to have three older siblings...


Our home was never quiet!


And if we were bored, Mom had the dreaded answer of "go clean your room."

My two brothers...


Another blond haired, blue eyed Fultz!








and a happy birthday to my nephew Ryan, born on Rick's 26th birthday!



The only problem with having siblings in their 50s...


it means that I'm next!!


Happy birthday, Rick! I love you!

A Reminder

I looked in the back of my Bible yesterday and saw notes from a lesson that Les taught in October. It's a new year and I know many are trying to improve in various ways. Before you look too deeply at your shortcomings, remember...

You are:

• Made in the Image of God
• Chosen by God
  
• A Child of God
• An Heir of God
• A Joint-Heir with Christ
• A King and Priest Unto God
• The Apple of His Eye

Isn't that a great way to start a Monday?

First Ride of 2011

After more than three weeks off the bike, I finally got to ride today! It was about 46 degrees and slightly cloudy - perfect riding weather. As we headed up Las Llayas, we heard the creek for the first time this season. There's been enough rain that it was flowing steadily and we had to cross it in three places.

We made it to "Y" and continued on up. We passed the equipment and made the turn to keep going up. I planned on going to the first summit like the last time I rode. What I hadn't planned on was a trail that had been trampled by cattle. A trail that was so bumpy I couldn't control my bike. It was a mess! I decided to turn back before I toppled over!

It was still great to be back on the bike. I may not have ridden my best, but I looked good! I was wearing this new jersey:



Under this new jacket:


Both were Christmas gifts from Les. The jacket converts to a vest or I can just wear the sleeves if I need to keep my arms a little warmer. And the sleeves come off with no effort - they are attached with magnets instead of zippers! I'll be wearing this well into Spring time!

Ananias and Sapphira

I've been thinking about Ananias and Sapphira this week after reading their story in Acts chapter 5. "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" It's amazing to me how quickly Satan tried to get a stronghold in the new church.

I've been wondering about this couple. Who were they? Were they in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost? Were they part of the three thousand souls that were added to the church that day? What changed so quickly for them? They didn't have to give any of the money, or they could have told Peter they were giving part of it. Did they plan their deception or was it after the money was in their hands that they gave in to temptation? What a sad ending. "And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost" (verse 5) and "Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost" (verse 10).

I've also been thinking about our response to the judgment of sin. Verse 5 of this chapter says, "great fear came on all them that heard these things" and verse 11 says, "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."

I have been in services when the man of God is preaching and sin is revealed. I cannot think of a single time when "great fear" did not come upon me. I am fearful for my own soul, lest I have sinned and not repented of it. It doesn't matter if I know I'm innocent or not, something in me says, "I have to be sure!" I never want to sit pridefully thinking I have no sin. But I am also fearful for others - what if they don't repent when God is giving them the opportunity?

These are sobering thoughts, but this is a story we cannot ignore. May Psalm 51:10 be the prayer of our hearts in 2011 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

Weight Watchers PointsPlus Week #5

This will probably be my last weekly post about the new WW program. I don't anticipate losing more weight since I've been at my goal weight for so long. I'm just happy to have made it to New Years weighing less than I did on Thanksgiving! I'll still write about health and nutritional foods but I don't plan on a weekly post going forward.

I received the latest WW magazine last week and there was a great article by David Kirchhoff, President and CEO of Weight Watchers. He wrote about the challenges of obesity in our society and the reason WW changed their program. He said, "our reliance on calorie counting has outlived its usefulness. Today, we are getting 35 percent of our calories from added sugars and fats - that's just too many empty calories. The fundamental issue with calorie counting can be summarized simply:"

"When we feel that we are making an "equal" choice between a 100-calorie apple and a 100-calorie bag of chips, we have clearly gone off track."

Well said!

In Memory of Bro. Murrell Ewing

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Bro. Murrell Ewing. He is known as a great singer. His voice was unique, singing songs written by his wife, Joan. But I also remember his preaching.


I remember a Youth Convention, probably about 1979 or 1980. I was still a teenager and Bro. Ewing was the speaker. One night he preached about "The Life You Could Have Lived." I don't know if that was the exact title, but that was the message and it cut to my heart that night. Sitting with hundreds of other young people, Bro. Ewing was preaching straight to me!

I was like many teenagers, going to church, praying when convenient, but not living my life completely for God. But something changed in me that night. It wasn't a unique message, but it was THE message for me at that time in my life! I had to take inventory to see if my life was going to be filled with regrets or one that followed the Master.

I am so thankful for preaching and preachers who are willing to preach it straight! I don't know where I'd be if not for preachers.

2011 Bible Reading Plan

The start of a new year always brings resolutions. Here are some of the most popular according to USA.gov:

• Drink Less Alcohol
• Get a Better Education
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Lose Weight
• Manage Debt
• Manage Stress
• Quit Smoking Now
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
• Save Money
• Take a Trip
• Volunteer to Help Others

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions - it seems they are almost a joke. "My New Year's resolution is to not make any resolutions." "My New Year's resolution is to eat dessert everyday." That is not to say we shouldn't make plans to do better. But our motivation should be for the right reasons, not just to check a little box.

With that in mind, I've changed my Bible Reading plan for 2011. There are dozens of plans that will help you read the Bible in a year - you can find some here. I've tried many of them and have read the Bible through many times. I have also fallen way behind and struggled to catch up, "speed reading" my way through the Minor Prophets and other Old Testament books. I don't think that is what God is looking for in daily Bible reading!

I've prayed about studying the Bible versus reading the Bible this year. I don't want to feel pressured to check a box, I want to immerse myself in His Word. I have started reading the chronological Bible, but I have started in the book of Acts. I've looked ahead and before I finish Acts I will also have read a number of Paul's letters to the churches. I don't have a finish date in mind, if it takes me all year to just read Acts and the Epistles but I've grown in my walk with God, I'll consider that a success!

Happy Anniversary, Rick and Diana!

Today, my brother and his wife celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary! They were still teenagers when they got married!


A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin


An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow. ~Author Unknown


Anniversary : A time to celebrate the beauty, gift, and the blessing of enduring love. - Author Unknown


The secret to having a good married life is to understand that marriage must be total, it must be permanent and it must be equal. - Author Unknown


No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married for quarter of a century. ~Author Unknown


Congratulations, Rick and Diana! and many more!!