Today I not only honor my mom…but the Mother of my boys.

Found this video from the Skit Guys to say Happy Mother’s Day…

Are you up for a Challenge?

I am and have started one on May Day – May 1st.

This all started in March when I began to enter into the running world and jumped in on March 19th or so while on vacation. I started well by beginning to run everyday for 10 days straight…then April came and I ran 13 out of 30 days…almost half! So since my beginning I am averaging running 4 times a week.

So this month I want to kick it up a notch and have taken a 30 Day Run Challenge from my friend Andy Brazelton & Jake Rasmussen is also in! These guys started a few days ago and I am going to join them. 30 Days in a row…No Excuses!

When I did begin my journey in the running world I started using a great app on my iPhone called RunKeeper that helps me track each day, my distance, pace, etc. It also posts to Twitter & Facebook which is helpful for friends who have commented or encouraged me…some may see this as a “pride” or oh look at me I am running and letting the whole world know on FB. Hear my heart on this one…this is more accountability for me and seeking encouragement along the way. Let’s face it we need one another. So if you are getting tired of seeing my Runkeeper Posts…use the hide tab on FB or de-friend me if it is an annoyance for you.

So want to join in on this Challenge?

For those that will be going to Challenge Conference this summer in New Orleans we will be able to hear from Francis Chan as one of the speakers so get your books now from him!

Crazy Love

Forgotten God

Erasing Hell

Click on these links to add to your Kindle Library before Easter Sunday!

UPDATE: Actually you can get them in all different e-book formats here.

It started with Drew who is 14 and start of track season for him. This is the 2nd year he has joined track and earlier this year he ran cross-country. I was involved with track when I was in high school and thought this would be a good thing for me to do along with him. I told his coach that when we were on vacation I would make sure he got his running in since he was going to miss practice…my thought was I surely could keep up with an 8th grader running a couple miles a day…right?

What was I thinking! I went running with him the 1st day we were in MN and he killed me! We only went a little under 2 miles…and I was a bit shocked…but this was the 1st of what I have enjoyed getting into this last week. I had downloaded a cool app on my iPhone called Runkeeper which tracks distance, speed, etc and I also have been using another app called MyFitnessPal to log my daily food diary as I a have been attempting to lose some weight which I think will help with this running too!

After the 1st day and posting about this on Twitter & FB some other Youthworker friends commented and came across some good advice from a friend of mine that started a couple years ago and he shared a Blog Post he wrote about beginning in running check it here. He shared another post that helped him when he got started here that basically gives you an 8 week plan for beginners in running. I am almost about done with Week #1! So that gives me some authority/street cred in this post…right?

Here is what I have been doing this week…5 minute warm up walking, then 20 minutes of steady run for 1 minute and then walk for 1 minute, followed by then a 5 minute cool-down walk which adds up to about a 30 minute walk/run. Runkeeper’s app has a way to set up your personal workouts with prompts and updates as I am listening to music which has been a great help.

Even after the first couple of days and the soreness in my legs…for a 40+ year old this has been a great First week! I really have been enjoying this and seeing some progress. One of my first goals for myself is to get to a 10 minute mile…can’t believe I am saying that…seems like a good goal to start with as I am averaging about a 12+ minute mile right now.

For me I have been fortunate to have gone with some of my own leaders where we can continually process what we took away from the conference as well as some other youthworkers in my area that had gone too. Also being part of the IT3 Team with Simply and our online community has also been a great help. I am amazed at the level of community that can happen that is mostly virtual (online) yet so personal. We may only actually see each other for an extended time a couple times during the year but the Group Page, posts, messages, phone calls, texts and prayer support are just a few of the ways that this has been an encouragement to me in just the last couple of weeks since being together. It is now even happening regionally as some of us going to the same student conference D2S Gameday in Chicago and working on how we can have our Student Ministries connecting and serving together…LOVE IT!

So SYMC…you have not gone anywhere….you continue to work in us as we serve in all places around the country!

He really liked that idea and here is proof that will incriminate us…

He had to make sure to wash his face so no one would know when we got back to the house! It was a fun day spending time with him and creating some special moments with him. I can just imagine what was going through his head as he said this is a Dad & Zach Day.

This got me to thinking…is this how I feel when I spend time with God? Or is it more of the reverse? What I mean by that is that often times I can feel too busy or rushed when it comes to my relationship with God when all He wants is to get some ice cream with me each day. Focused time with him developing our relationship. He is always there wanting to spend that time with us if we would just take a moment to stop and connect. Reminds me of the book Refuel by Doug Fields that I read a while ago and even have used as a message series in Student Ministry of Stop, reflect and connect with God daily.

Yesterday was fun day connecting with Zach and doing a Dad & Zach Day and I look forward to making this more of a “norm” than what it has been, and also making the time for Drew & Tyler too…I need to be having these connections with my kids. I also want to use this as a way to remind me of having Ice Cream with my Heavenly Father too…wonder if I can get the Hot Fudge everyday without the calories

Also check out this video Re-Mix of All He Does Is Win…although they did lose to NE this week…guess even with Tebow you can’t win them all…just ask the Packers!

For the past 18+ years I have had the privilege of working with students as a Youth Pastor! Through those years there has been some great times…and then the other stuff that God has used to help me grow closer to Him…called life! These last few years I have found the community of other Youthworkers (YM Nation or #ymnation) has been a life-line that has encouraged me, prayed for me, listened to me, and the list can go on. We simply need to take time to BREATHE!

My friend Darren Sutton says it best here…well he doesn’t really talk but can you relate?

Simply Youth Ministry has provided a way for youthworkers in the “Nation” to gather to learn together, be refreshed, encouraged and have fun together that I have found a “must do” or “Bucket List” item each year! This year it will be in Louisville, KY Home of the Louisville Slugger! Mark March 2-5, 2012 on your calendar and go here to get more information and register! Join me and others in the #ymnation You can also message me here and I can send you a code to save $25 on your registration…and who doesn’t like $25! That is like FREE Starbucks for the weekend! Don’t delay…this conference has sold out each year. All it takes is a $50 deposit to hold your spot and then pay the Balance in Mid-January 2012.