DoxA

Come On, Get Happy!

I've often mentioned that church today has become nothing more than the average Christian getting up on Sunday morning, jumping on the Christian "Tour Bus," to listen to the Christian "Tour Guide" talk about the "Christian" experience as they drive by in the comfort of their seats with no intention of ever getting off to discover what's out there themselves.

I recall a time when in Bible College studying the varying degrees of sin and having the whole philosophical discussion if God treats certain sins differently and what the natural affect of our sins have on us... blah, blah, blah. Nobody like to talk about sin. However, we're pretty good at pointing out sin when we see it. But then again, what ones see is only determined by what one understands. I understand I'm a sinner so I guess I see a lot of what I do as sinful... and naturally, this makes me pretty disappointed in myself and at times miserable.

Sometimes when people have "issues" (notice I like to use quotes a lot?) I'll often tell them to not give me all the details. Sometimes people are happy, if not glad to oblige while others want to pour their guts out and question me for it... I respond, "I'd rather not know a lot of the details because then I'll become responsible to address them all and I don't want to be responsible for everything." thinking if I need more information; I'll ask for it and this way, they'll remain responsible to do the thing they need to do!

You see, when it comes to sin, we know there are things we shouldn't do and then there are those things we know we should! Back to that earlier mentioned Bible College moment. There were a bunch of us who came out of the catholic church (now you might understand the level of discussion regarding sin) it's where I learned about the sins of commission, the ones we make AND the sins of omission the ones we are guilty of because of what we should have done! This comes from Paul's mention in Romans 7:19 "I don't do the things that I know I should..."

If we're on the bus and all we do is talk about what we should do and not getting involved in the details I can see how that would make one "happy." After all being on the bus is safe! There are probably snakes and lions out there... "Come on Pastor... tell us one more time what it was like for Paul... I like that story! Oh, and friend who looks like me and thinks like me and acts like me... do you like our multi-colored bus because, guess what?"

... We had a dream we'd go travelin' together
And spread a little lovin', then we keep moving on
Something always happens whenever we're together
We get a happy feeling when we're singing a song.

Trav'lin' along, here's a song that we're singing
Come on get happy
A whole lotta lovin' is what we'll be bringing
We'll make you happy.

Come on get happy!

Farrah

I'm gonna tell this story in brief... but when I was "on the road" we were in New York City.

Without going into great detail we had an amazing day. A buddy and I snagged front row, VIP ticket access to the then, original David Letterman show on NBC, saw A Chorus Line, had a great classic New York City dining experience at Momma Leone's and along with our friend Deeann decided to try to get into the newly opened Hard Rock Cafe (it opened that week). When we arrived at the Hard Rock there was a long line waiting go get in with a bouncer determining who would enter and who would wait... we just walked up and the burly man lifted the velvet rope and granted us immediate access! Once in the restaurant we were ushered up stairs to a balcony view table. After 15 or 20 minutes there was a noticeable stir in the place. We were still impressed with our amazing day so we didn't take notice until suddenly a guy came next to me and just stood off my right shoulder. Then two people passed by and sat at the only table beyond us... it was Ryan O'Neil and Farrah Fawcett.

I've told this story countless times. How Farrah and I were facing each other, as if she were sitting across from me only a table separated and how she kept looking my way. I asked Deeann to confirm what I was seeing and she assured me I wasn't imagining things. I was a bit intimidated knowing the temper Ryan O'Neil was known for but dismissed it because I didn't invite the stare and I was in her direct view, which to me seemed to be so seductive... oh, the imagination of a 23 year old!

When she got up, for whatever reason and walked by our table (I've told this like an ancient tale, how she brushed her hand on my shoulder and kept walking) my heart stopped. I've often thought it was intentional but the restaurant was still crowded and her security detail, still right off my right shoulder had to move aside.

Accident??? I don't know. But it left an ever lasting impression on this poor boy who had that poster hanging in his room!

We Are Ridiculous!

First off... let me say this is not a post on triathlon. I know, I know, it's Thursday. But as I'm studying this morning for the weekend message I'm running into things that make me laugh, cringe and otherwise want to distance myself from Christians. Most of these things come from the notion or idea that whatever the world offers, we will too but make it "right" or "righteous!" Just a couple of examples here... Several years ago I walked into a Christian Bookstore (even writing that seems a bit strange to me. The term Christian is now an adjective, a label if you will, that can describe anything from music to food... I'll continue) and noticed on the counter a box of breath mints... but not just any breath mints but Testamints! Close by were little tiny vials of oil to be used for anointing, claiming it's origin from the holy land. Don't get me started on this one. Further inspection of the store made me realize the artwork on the walls all seemed to have the same... look. Somehow, dusk laden cottages and eagles speak to the spiritual needs of those saved by grace. To this day I have a thing about Thomas Kincaid paintings, I'm sure he's a nice guy and I love the paintings. They're well done but for some reason they just got associated with the wrong crowd. Which is unfortunate because I think, for the most part, his stuff is original and it appears other artists are copying his technique.

Whether it's Christian Yellowpages or Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider (apparently a Christian alternative for festive celebration) I am sometimes amazed at what lengths we "Christians" will go to have it our way and just how clueless we are to how the rest of the world looks on. Let me leave you with this from the world of Christian music as seen from an Alltop reviewed website.

doesn't look that real to me!

Nice try, nice guy!

I might know who they're talking about but would everyone?

So what ridiculous things are we doing? Tell us what you see so we can laugh at ourselves before we cry!

Come Back Kid

As I write this I'm watching the US Open and the crowd wildly chanting "Let's go Phil!" This, as Phil Michelson walks to the green of the 17th hole. He's tied for the lead... Phil has been four times the bridesmaid but never the bride. Phil just blew a short put... he's one shot back now.

When I usually watch golf, one player seems to know how to come from behind... You know his name and they call this movement; "a charge."

Today, our world offers so many opportunities to observe underdog victories. From televised sporting events and reality shows to corporate ladder climbing and strokes of luck we love a good "Cinderella Story." But when it comes to life, as we know it, we may admire those who somehow make their way to the top but, like an indistinguishable face in the stands, believe our only involvement is one of spectator.

Often when we admire the success of others we separate the experience from our own abilities and think I could never play golf like Tiger or sing like Carrie or run a business like The Donald. Are we then resigned to our mediocrity; a state of mind which holds one captive from ever aspiring to be better themselves? I used to think mediocrity was the result of comfort. But I've come to another conclusion.

When reading the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15; Jesus tells of a son who asks for his inheritance early, goes and squanders it and finds himself miserable... is that mediocrity? This son then comes to his senses decides to return home hoping to get a job as a hired hand... is that mediocrity? His father sees the come back kid in the distance and runs toward him accepting him back as if nothing ever happened... is that mediocrity?  To me, none of that is mediocre because I started thinking for one to come out of mediocrity, "Does it require a significant move in obscurity to force one to think of themselves in a different light so they'll move toward being known?" Ha! I thought I was on to something until I noticed the reaction of the elder brother of the prodigal's story... you know the dutiful one who never left home and was offended the father would be so merciful.

“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ Luke 15:28-30 NLT

It was the attitude of the older son which revealed to me true mediocrity. As Ayn Rand quotes, "Mediocrity" doesn't mean average intelligence, it means an average intelligence that resents and envies its betters." I now understand why many look to the successful and then proceed to build empires around their limitations.

Competition is fierce! It can be collegial too. But it can not be reserved only for those who are willing to get to the top and stay there. It is also for those who hit rock bottom and need to go somewhere else. But most importantly, competition is for the mediocre.

The US Open is now over... Phil tied for second... again... and this time with another come back kid; David Duvall!

What's your story?

A Really Goode Job

Several years ago when I was competing in wine tasting competitions a couple of times I found myself in a "sudden death" taste off to win the competition's grand prize. One such year put me head to head with Kerrie O'Brian who was the enologist at Murphy Goode Winery in Sonoma, California at the time. Although she finally won that taste off by a point (we both said the wine was a Zinfandel, we both said it was from Sonoma County, we both got the winery wrong but she said it was an 95, I said it was a 96...), we developed a good friendship and subsequently I was introduced to the inside of Murphy Goode.

More than ten years later Kerrie now makes wine in France and Murphy Goode is looking for another employee... but not just any employee. They are offering a job, wait... A Really Goode Job to someone who can create a marketing powerhouse for their brand though social networking tools such as blogging, Twitter, Facebook, etc. With that in mind only one person comes to mind... Randy Elrod!

His exceptionally produced introduction video is one minute and can be found by clicking HERE. Please watch the video and vote his as your favorite... you'll receive an email asking you to confirm your vote (if you don't see this email with a couple of minutes please check your spam filter). The deadline to vote is Friday.

Finally, and this is no sycophant action, if you're wanting a good bottle of wine at good value check out Murphy Goode Wines. They often make their way to our table!

Things That Bug!

Urkel... that bottle-glasses, suspender-totten, high watered nerd on, Family Matters, used to drive me crazy with his character's constant disruption of everyone else's normal life while seemingly ignorant to his culpability and finally asking, "Did I do that?" There are other annoying phrases and sounds that just create certain ire in me; such as... "You gonna eat that?" "It's not my problem" "people say" or "they say" and "whatever;" just to name a few. Sounds like chomping, smacking and eating of ice all bother me. Not so much by the sound as they are intentional... accidental sounds (if you know what I mean) don't seem to bug me as much!

Then it's not just what people say but it's how they say it... for instance. When people talk they're always looking for affirmation, "You know what I mean?" Yesterday when I was eating, you know what I mean? I found a hair in my sandwich, you know what I mean? and it maid me, you know what I mean... sick! Or when people pray they seem to always forget who they're talking to... "God, I just (the word "just" is a ho' nutha issue) want to thank you God, for God you are so good God and God, can you please God, help me God, be a better person God for uh... for uh... God! Then there are those people who end their sentences up in inflecting tone (what is known as "uptalk"). They have the same kind of effect on my belief of that person's intelligence as those from the south... yeah... I just stepped in it right there huh? oh wait!!!  Did I do that?

So what bugs you? What phrases, what sounds... maybe it's pompous bloggers who make fun at people from the south or Brittney Spears?

Just another new installment of things to find here at DoxA called: Things That Bug!

It Can be Tangible

Certain things in life are, shall we say, concrete; solid, immovable, undeniable, a force to be reckoned with if moving rapidly toward it. Then there are those things which are equally fluid; slippery, unable to hold, difficult to distinguish, even a bit unnecessary. I once tried to melt plastic the way I melt chocolate. It didn't work. I had no intention of eating the plastic but I did think the concept of making it as mold-able as chocolate seemed a nobrainer to me. Yet when trying to make it "chocolaty" it eventually burst into flames and evaporated into a toxic cloud. I was told the plastic would have melted similarly to chocolate had I been able to regulate a much higher heat and not expose it directly to the heat source. Apparently, plastic has a much higher melting point than chocolate and not all plastics are the same. So... perhaps I was successful in actually melting the plastic although I wasn't able to use it. After all it did melt in the end. But was my attempt effective?

When Jesus told Peter that he was going to build his church upon Peter (Rock) he said, "The gates of hell will not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18. Sounds pretty concrete to me. Yet I struggle to find a (collective) church that has enough gumption to prevail against immorality, oppression and justice. Far too many churches are acting the equivalent of loudmouth bullies from the pulpit but when confronted run and hide and cry foul. This is the image of a church much more fluid; melting at the slightest heat.

Someone once told me, "weak pastors prepare weak people." The point was obvious; what the pastor is or isn't willing to declare for himself will give license for those in his church to do the same. I am oft reminded of this as I prepare the very words I speak. Will I be weak, timid and afraid if someone were to challenge me, tell me my ideas are straw-man propositions? Or will I be bold amid accusations, bucking desires to be liked and standing on truth that comes from an ancient system of morality? As James states, you and I are nothing but a vapor, something that flashed beyond the melting point but regardless of how ancient those very truths found in the Bible may be, I also hear the words of the prophet Isaiah echoed by the apostle Peter...

For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say,
“People are like grass;
their beauty is like a flower in the field.
The grass withers and the flower fades.
But the word of the Lord remains forever.” 1 Peter 1:23-25

If weak pastors prepare weak people then weak people make for a weak church.

I ask you: What's going to make the church strong, viable, unmistakable, a force?

What part are you willing to play? I know my part.

Coming In Third

Yesterday when reading Seth Godin's Blog I discovered this video and Seth's commentary on Guy #3. His observation the first guy is just a crazy guy out there dancing. Guy # 2 also can just be seen as another crazy guy... BUT it's "Guy #3 who makes it a movement." Watch what happens next!

Imagine our faith... some think we're just the crazy guy out front. Imagine the church if it were to try something daring? The first church, who tries it would be looked at with doubt; even ridicule. The second would be seen just as ill-formed... but the third just might be on to something!

Is it right to compare those on a hillside, listening to the "front man" of a small band acting counter-culture to the rest of the world? Seems to me like it's been done before.

Jamie's Having Surgery Again

It's been a while since I've updated everyone on Jamie Whitmore and the saga which is her recovery from cancer, retirement from the sport of Xterra Triathlon and redefining her future.

Today Jamie is having surgery to have a kidney transplant... her own kidney, removed and replaced and when I say replaced, I mean her own kidney taken from her lower back and moved around and place in her pelvic area from the front. This will allow Jamie to return to a bit more of a normal life as she has had to carry a drain that exited from her back to clear that kidney. Without the drain she'll be able to swim, shower and get about without concern of the six foot long tail.

A concern for Jamie is whether this new placement of the kidney will hinder her active lifestyle. So, she has asked that folks pray through this 8 hour long surgery and she'll be able to return all the sports she loves. So, without taking my words for it, I'll repost the words she wrote this morning on her blog.

As I go into this next surgery I pray that all goes well.  I pray that I can still go to the bathroom on my own and that there is no further damage.  I also pray that the doctors can tuck my kidney in far enough that it doesn't really bother me.  I will be out for at least 8 hours so most of all I hope I wake up because you never know when it is going to be your time!

Powered By God,

Jamie

Not So Hot When It Was So Hot: Honu 1/2 Race Report

After the race Saturday in Hawaii, I felt compelled to let everyone know who had commented and gave encouragement going into the race it that it hadn't turned out as planned. I wanted to Twitter... "I suck!" but realized that was probably too strong and too brief to convey my exact feelings at the time. So, I'll go ahead and begin to tell the story and perhaps you'll understand why I was a bit... no, a lot, disappointed in my race.

PRE RACE:
Given the fact a half Ironman race is a grueling endurance event it requires plenty of proper training. My coach had set out an appropriate training schedule to which I was following and making progress... that was until the first of May! This month has been rife with interruptions and travel to the east coast. Two out of the four weeks leading up to the race I was without bike and pool and very limited for run time. The other two weeks had quick trips to Southern California for a conference and a memorial service. Generally speaking this lack of focused training wasn't going to keep me from finishing but it would have it's affect on a focused finish! I had high hopes for this race. Knowing it was going to be a competitive field, on a moderately difficult but one I liked, course; I felt that I could really take some time off my previous 4:58:00 three years prior.

When we arrived in Hawaii on Thursday morning we noticed things were... hmmm shall we say different. It was very hazy and cloudy! But it's the big island and the weather is pretty unpredictable and cloud cover is actually a good thing, so didn't think much of it at first. When we arrived at Fred and Laura's place off of Ali'i Drive (from where I'm currently writing this report) we were warmly greeted by our dear friends, shown our comfortable accommodations and asked what we thought about the Vog? "Vog... you say?" Yes... the vog was the cause of the clouds and haze... As most know Kiluaea, the active volcano on the big island, has been spewing lava into the ocean for decades now. This has settled to a stream or a flow of which this past year developed into another flow so now there are two and the plumes of toxic, volcanic ash are creating havoc for the islands.

Friday morning brought an early wake up call and drive to Hapuna Beach where I was to swim in the warm waters at race start, then a 45 minute bike and 15 minute run. When I got to the beach at 7am the crowds were already forming however there were no swim buoys in the water so we all just took off in the direction of the route and enjoyed flat, calm conditions in pristine clear water. After exiting the water and putting on my bike gear I noticed the cloud cover was keeping the temps down but humidity high. There was little breeze, which is unusual on the Kohala Coast, leading one to a good news, bad news scenario for the morning but I reminded myself, "This is the big island... you can never predict the weather!" After the workout was done, without incident, I traveled a mere 4 miles to the Fairmont Orchid Hotel to check in for the night, check in for the race and wait for Joy to arrive.

The registration, Bikeworks expo and hotel check in was a well oiled machine... which makes me pause and give a shout out to Diana Bertsch and her team. There is something to be said about the same people who put on the Ironman World Championships; they know what they're doing... which meant we had to have our bike to run transition bags prepared and turned in by 2:30. It was here I ran into Mitch Gold, my former coach from the desert. Mitch was hosting his Honu Camp with nearly a dozen athletes preparing for Ironman Cour d 'Alene... he said it was going well with nearly 500 miles of cycling in a week (that's a lot!). Along with catching up with a few other folks from the desert, like good friend, Lori Travis, I was off to take final steps to get my bike to the beach, dinner secured and a good night's rest. Lights out and a decent sleep began at 8:05 pm and continued until the alarm went off at 4:45 am.

RACE DAY:
Getting to the swim venue was especially easy since we had a car and avoided the shuttle from the hotel. Unlike the last time here parking was a breeze and soon I was standing by my bike making last minute checks on tire pressure, gearing, shoe, helmet and race belt placement. My position was actually great; way up front right next to the pros! I had a chance to chat briefly with Chris Lieto. We wished each other a great race. Then heading down to the beach; body marking is unlike the usual find-someone-with-a-black-permanent-marker-pen because here they have tables where they use ink pads and block numbers to press on your arms. This year something a bit unusual... no age marking on your calf! Huh? How would I know if I needed to run someone down? We will later see this became a moot point.

Swim - the waters of Hapuna Beach are spectacular! A perfect 81 degrees, which means you're not allowed to use a wet suit. So, as I was getting ready to jump in to warm up I noticed a TRIbe Triathlon teammate walking toward me. It was great to meet Todd as we had heard of each other but not met until then. He wasn't racing but there to cheer on his girlfriend... I think he said something like, "I'm glad I'm not doing this #@&%*! race. It's gonna be hotter 'n hell out there today!" With a nod I bid farewell for the calm Pacific.

The start at this race is unusual for a half Ironman distance race... it's a mass start as opposed to a wave start. Also, you can either start in the water and swim, start at the waters edge and run in or run along the beach and jump in... there is no advantage and the faster swimmers tend to start in the water and that's were I go. Treading water I looked over to see Mitch right next to me. We wished each other well and then the canon and the splashing begins!

I was surprised how smooth the swim was going out to first buoy but that is as far as it went being smooth from there on it was a slug fest for the next five hundred meters. I don't know why or what happened to make it like that I've been in much worse condition with more people and didn't struggle as much. In fact what should have been the open backside/long length of the swim seemed the most congested! Lori had made a comment that someone who swam the course the day before thought it was long... who knows, but I will admit I was disappointed to finally get vertical on the beach to notice that I had a blazing 35 minutes (that's sarcasm) on my watch. slogging away up the sand toward T1 I crossed the timing mat at 35:53 exactly the same time as Lori... I had no idea I was right next to her. Getting into transition was a little slow because it was a bit crowded and many folks just walking their bikes out. When I finally got out to the bike mount area there was Lori right in front of me having some difficulty getting into her pedals and I comment about needed some help... she gave me a funny look until she realized it was me. We rode out together to the highway and said our goodbyes.

Bike - Almost immediately you could tell the humidity was stifling and the "vog" beginning to accumulate. It would take the twenty-plus miles per hour on the bike to keep comfortable; which began as soon as the course turned south on the Queen K highway for about 5 miles to the entrance of the Mauna Lani Resorts then U-turns back to a constant grind north through Kawaihae then up to Hawi. It's a rolling terrain with uphill thrusts to the Hawi town limits. Unlike the Ironman this course doesn't quite go into the quaint little town and as the turn around approaches the speed diminishes with the climb. Again at the turn around with no air flow it was extremely stuffy and I looked down to notice I was already crystalline white and sweating as though I had just walked through a water fall. Taking on my mix of Edurolytes and Thermolytes (Thermolytes add more sodium for these extreme humid conditions) I realized that the humidity was going to be a factor later in the run.

The ride down out of Hawi was fast and steady. I chose to change the big chain ring from my usual 53 to a bigger 55 since most people run out of gear and can do nothing but coast down but there was little wind to push from behind so I wasn't given much of an advantage but did have one none the less and went he rollers began again I started a cat and mouse chase with about 5 other athletes. At the bottom going into Kawaihae harbor there is a deceptive 1 1/2 mile up hill back to the highway... this is my least favorite part of the bike course because you just feel like you're standing still and with the humidity still climbing it became harder for me to do the same. Getting to the top there's only about 8 miles left and here it's just pace yourself to ready your legs for the run... I remembered thinking my back, legs and lungs all felt good coming into the Fairmont... T2 (which I had not seen before) was a picturesque location just outside our hotel room where I quickly came upon the dismount area, heard Fred in the distance giving instructions to where my bike rack location was located and had my bike to run gear placed. Running my bike down I usually look from my time but forgot to look. I was in the throws of shock as the heat and humidity was punching me in the throat like an Ultimate Cage fighter. Time on the bike 2:37:36

Run - getting my gear out of my transition bag goes something like this... 1. open 2. dump 3. put in or on appropriate places... Hammer gels in pockets, visor on head, socks on
(I opt for sock during half IM's only on the run)... socks on; oh crud I forgot to turn them outside-in before hand and individually in each shoe. Rookie mistake! Okay everything in place I stand upright and start running. I could hear Joy, Laura, and Todd yelling and encouraging on the way out... especially memorable was Fred saying, "remember how great that rib-eye's gonna taste!" thinking I would gladly trade the rib-eye for an iceberg lettuce salad right now! Wow, was it hot!!

The run takes place on the golf course and roads around the resort. Before the course was slightly up and down with a good section along the beach catching a nice breeze but not anymore. This course was headed straight inland and up and up. when it went down it did so sharply and often. By the time we hit the road I was checking heart rate and mile pace. Holding @ 8:35 pace for the first few miles I shrugged it off to the heat as that's been about 45 seconds slower than training brick workouts but by mile 5 things were slowing down even further. I was grabbing cups of ice and holding ice in my left hand, a technique thought to keep body temps lower... it didn't appear to be helping. By mile 7 my heart rate was a whopping 164! and I just managed a 9:50 mile. Not only did that discourage me I was getting a bit dizzy and started to lose my balance a bit. DANGER!!! Although I knew I was probably in podium position I had to make a decision. keep this up and run slower out of contention and most likely DNF or slow it down, meaning walk (I can't run much slower than 10 min. mile pace) and finish. This was too eerily like what happened in France last year but at least there I had already run an half marathon. Here I was just half way! So the walk began and continued until half way down to "Hell's Kitchen" the Honu equivalent of the Energy Lab where it's nothing but lava and pavement everywhere. But I was starting to feel good and my HR finally dropped below 120 while walking so I started a jog... which turned back to stride and by the turn around I was feeling normal again... and the last two miles actually felt like kicking myself for ever walking as I was holding a 7:50 pace (albeit it's slightly downhill here and partially shaded)! When coming into the finish the crowd was loud, view incredible and there before you know it! I was glad to be done yet incredibly disappointed but not regretful for the decision... I really wanted to finish more than podium. Total run time 2:10:41. Up until then my slowest triathlon/half marathon was 1:50... so yeah, 20 minutes stings besides that's the difference of my making it on the podium but 14th place regardless is respectable and as one guy said to me as we were waiting for a massage along the beach... "Hey man... 5:28 would be a huge PR for me."

One thing for certain. I've got my work cut out for me come August in Louisville. It is a hot and humid race and obviously I don't do well in these conditions but I am determined to come back to the island in October and now have, as my youngest daughter used to say, a great "owie in my heart!"

Post Script: The after party of this race is top notch! I loved the location, atmosphere, organization and staff/volunteers; absolutely the best and worth every penny! I want to again thank our hosts Fred and Laura Keener, dear friends who made EVERY effort to make our stay so "stressful!" Finally, to my travel companion, who sits next to me now reading over my shoulder... "thanks for letting me do this. We have good times together, don't we?"

Now, it's back to the grind and lots of training!