It's Not about a Scale

Fitness is not about the number on the scale. It's about the person you become, the discipline you build, and the confidence you get from doing hard things and never quitting. The best version of YOU is worth more than any number you could ever find on a scale.  

The Gods -- Then and Now (1 Thess. 1:9)

See that little word in 1 Thess. 1:9 that I've circled? 

I'd never really noticed it before today. It's the word "the" in Greek but it's never been translated into English. Other languages more nearly approximate the Greek at this point:

• LUTH: von den Abgöttern
• LBLA: de los ídolos
• LSG: en abandonnant les idolas

I might render the construction "how you turned to God from your idols" or even "how you turned to God from those idols of yours." 

Everyone in Thessalonica knew about these idols. Macedonian religion worshipped the entire pantheon of Greek gods. In fact, Macedonia was named after Makedon, son of Zeus. 

The patron god of Thessalonica was Cabirus. Moreover, Macedonia, like much of the Roman Empire, was given over to Emperor worship since Caesar was considered to be divine. 

Finally, Mount Olympus, whose summit was considered the home of the gods, was only 50 miles from Thessalonica. 

So it would have been a big deal for these Thessalonian believers to stop worshiping the popular idols of their day.

The idols which the pagan Thessalonians couldn't live without are sadly not all that different from the ones I often ignore or rationalize away. Like Ananias and Sapphira, sometimes I think that only "big" transgressions matter and that true Christianity can be separated from following Christ's pattern of obedience in very ordinary, everyday ways. Modern opportunities for idol worship are pretty common today. They're in front of us every day. It's the people who recognize them for what they are and know how to avoid them who are rare. 

The Touch of the Master

I am just so amazed how God can be so good to one person as he has been to me. I mean, I'm so thrilled just to be able to serve the Lord. I'm happier now than I've ever been. What I'm trying to say is that the joy of the Lord is definitely your strength. I thank him for his love. I thank him for his joy. I mean, I still get to do what I've always wanted to do, still living out a dream, still teaching others about Jesus and equipping a new generation of leaders to be all that God is calling them to be. It's still amazing to me that I am able to do that. 

I'm overwhelmed with God's healing touch in my life. Some of you know that in 2020 I got deathly ill. Nobody really knew what I had. I couldn't balance myself, couldn't walk, could hardly breath and swallow. It looked like my traveling and teaching days were over. My daughter and grandson came from Alabama to care for me. I confess to you that I didn't think I was ever going to get better. Turns out that my problem was a B12 deficiency. As soon I started getting injections, things gradually returned to normal. Now let me be clear. I'm not doing what I'm doing today because Dave Black had such great stamina and strength or that I told myself, "I'm gonna beat this thing." I am here today, doing what I love to do, because of a touch from the Master. 

Thank God for that touch. 

Since the day my strength returned, my prayer has been, "Lord lift me up and let me stand, by faith on heaven's tableland; a higher plane than I have found, Lord plant my feet on higher ground." I will not fret about yesterday's failures or tomorrow's challenges. I will discover God's will for my life one day at a time. I will feel free to weep, to doubt, to laugh till I hurt. I will not minimize or justify my wrong. I will take responsibility for my health. I will take time to create memories for my grandchildren. I will make them a birthday card instead of buying one. I will pick a flower, enjoy a sunset, spend an hour reading Latin, fill up a bird bath, feed the donkey a carrot, ask God to lead me every day to a special verse in the Bible, smile at my coworkers, do something nice for my children, be a better listener, and think less about being a people-pleaser and more about pleasing God. I will let go and trust God for such things as my health, coping with the death of a loved one, dealing with temptation, and accepting the inevitability of old age. I'm not just another somebody lost in the rush of life. I'm the unique creation of God whom he will lovingly guide along the path he thinks is best for me. 

I've got his Word on it. 

Was Paul the Author of Hebrews?

Pumped to share this interview with you as we discuss:

• The authorship of Hebrews
• The external evidence
• Corroborated by the internal evidence
• What Origen really said about the authorship of the letter
• Why it matters 

Huge thank you to Matt Whitman for having me on his show. 

Got My Workout and My Steps In Today

Thank you, Lord! 

We Shall See Jesus

I hope your Easter service today was as wonderful as mine was. Together, believers are a melting pot of people who overlook all of our differences to thrive as a family through sickness and health, successes and failures. As head of the church, the Lord whose resurrection we celebrated today has slated regular family reunions called church services. And as we gather week after week, we are privileged to affirm the family ties that bind us together. 

But oh, a more glorious family reunion is the works. For all these years, Jesus has been preparing a place for us. And any day now we'll hear the trumpets blow. 

And WE SHALL SEE JESUS.

I hope you enjoy this glorious gospel song as much I as do.

Have a wonderful week! 

My Philosophy of Life

Make it happen.

Or make excuses.

Working out is more than just exercise. 

It's proof to yourself that you're willing to fight to become the person you want to be.

It doesn't require perfection.

Just effort.

Work hard, and the rest will come. 

Day by day.

Brick by brick.

As long as you keep going, you'll get there.

At any age. 

Savor It All

If you're not careful, you can easily grow colder as you grow older in terms of your relationship with the Lord. "Older and better" should be synonymous words. Celebrate the gift of aging with gratitude to God for each day he gives you. Savor it all. 

Speakers Up

Looking for a good workout pump song? Outro is pure fire. 

The Importance of Expository Preaching

While growing up in Hawaii, most of the sermons I heard were topical. But when I got to Biola in 1971, I joined the College Church of La Mirada. The pastor was a graduate of Denver Seminary. It was my first exposure to expository preaching. Several things about his teaching method stood out to me:

1. Clarity. He used terms even new believers could understand.

2. Practicality. He connected with the audience.

3. Authenticity. He was real.

4. Focus. He stayed with the text.

5. Accuracy. He worked hard to see that his comments squared with the Scriptures.

There's nothing magical about Bible exposition. It's simply the practice of learning, then explaining, the meaning and purpose of a given passage of Scripture. When your message is delivered it is based, to the best of your ability, on the word of God and not someone's opinion or personal ideas. Moreover, the truth is applied and illustrated in a manner that people can understand. The study of Scripture should always enable us to live out the life of Christ before others.

That pastor's name was Robert Hakes. May his tribe increase. 

Today's Gym Workout and 9-Mile Run

I have no business being a weight lifter or a runner. It's a pure serendipity that I'm either. When I started lifting I was sure I'd find a way to fail at strength training. Yet here we are today -- it's still a part of my life. 

When I began running after Becky went home to heaven, I wasn't sure I would ever become someone who enjoyed running. But I haven't failed at running. In fact, I enjoy it more and more. 

For a sport to become a part of your life, it must become a part of who you are. Being a lifter or a runner must become a part of the definition of yourself. The fact is, we can only be who we are. We can meet no expectations other than the ones we set for ourselves. Sports can teach us this lesson if we let it. Both lifting and running have taught me how to be all of who I am and hope to be. With every workout, I am getting closer to the essential me. 

In the long run, it doesn't matter if it takes you 3 weeks or 30 weeks to reach your goal as long as you're going in the right direction. In 13 weeks I will fly to Oahu and surf. A month later it will be time to fly to Geneva and begin climbing the Alps again. As long as I am going in the right direction, I feel I can reach my goals, Frankly, I am so amazed how our bodies can adjust and adapt to the stresses we place on them that I am in an almost constant state of joy and delight. I watch in amazement as my body begins to respond to the physical demands I place on it. 

I have come to realize that change and improvement is a never-ending process. Getting into shape isn't something you do. It's something you are always doing. 

My friend, if it's true that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so too does the journey to a new life as an athlete. Every day that you exercise, you are one step closer to wherever you're headed. 

The Inestimable Value of Walking

Your daily actions are all that matters. Just an hour of exercise daily can transform your body. Even a little can go a long way. A simple 30-minute daily walk can jumpstart your fitness journey. Walking is definitely KING when it comes to low impact cardio. Just start today and your mood will dramatically improve and your body slowly start to lose fat. I started weeks ago walking 9 miles every day. My muscles are peaking slowly and I've never wanted to walk as much as I do today. Walking a minimum of 10,000 steps is still the key to getting results. Walking not only strengthens the body but also revitalizes the mind. As an avid runner, I can confirm that running is not great for fat loss. The biggest reason is that running burns primarily glycogen rather than your fat stores. You'll also get very tired very soon. It's just much easier to walk. While I still run (I've done three 32-mile ultras), walking is now a huge part of my training. I'm averaging 9 miles a day. That's over 20,000 steps. Honestly, walking is 100 percent one of the single best ways to lose body fat. It's helped me go from 240 pounds to 213 pounds in just 3 months. I have seen a lot of stomach fat go away, and for the first time in decades I can see my abs. 

I've gone from fat to fit. It feels absolutely fantastic. The journey is far from over, but walking 9 miles a day has definitely proven to be one of the most effective ways to lose weight, combined with strength training. 

Walking is time consuming but it's so healthy. Your health is not an area for shortcuts or quick fixes. When I made my 13 trips to mainland China, I noticed that everyone took evening walks from the babies to the 70-year olds. Discipline is doing the things that you don't necessarily want to do so frequently that they turn from an obligation into a habit. 

Most people transform themselves once every never. Don't be one of them. Go slow if you need to, but get started now. It takes years, not months, to get into great shape. Keep going!

Fully Alive

Whether it's lifting at the gym. 

Or getting in my daily steps. 

Or working on the farm.

I'm on an odyssey of self-discovery without a guide. What I am going to learn about my aging self is not going to come from a book or the words of a therapist but from my own feet. I am learning that I can be defeated but not beaten. I am learning to admire others for being faster or leaner or stronger than me without allowing myself to believe that they are better than me. I am learning that success is measured not by what I accomplish but by how hard I work to get out the door every day. 

This feeling is out there for everyone. It's out there for you. You can't predict it. You can't force it. But you will know it when you feel it. It's called being fully alive. It's called experiencing the best and the worst that I am and accepting them equally. 

So if you see me at the gym with a huge smile on my face or out on the trail happily plodding along, don't expect the smile to ever come off my face. 

When You Complete Your Daily Steps

Don't forget to have kimchi with your dinner. 

Accepting the Challenges of Aging

Currently the surf report is calling for 1 foot waves in Virginia Beach. Rats. I'm off for Easter break this week and next and was hoping to catch a few. After all, we don't want to get to Hawaii in July rusty, now do we? Someone asked me the other day if I could still surf at the age of 72. I told them, "It's like riding a bike -- you never really forget." 

That said, I will admit that the older you get, the better shape you need to be in for all the paddling surfing requires. Hence today's back and arms workout. 

It's these muscles that will have to do the heavy work of getting me out to the breakers at the South Shore of Oahu. They'll also be asked to be get me up the Riffelhorn in August. 

Old I may be. If you are new to surfing or mountain climbing, you may be too. But by accepting the challenges presented to us by our choices and our genetics, we can work at being the best surfer or mountaineer we know how to be. Every day gives us an opportunity to improve. It may be that, like me, the more you train, the more connected you feel to your past surfing successes. Before you know it, there will be times when you will imagine yourself dropping into an 8-footer at Publics or Kaiser's in Waikiki. You will see yourself paddling hard and strong and well. 

Every day that you train you are one step closer to wherever you are headed. 

The Power of Enthusiasm

I woke up this morning with so much enthusiasm I could hardly stand it. I mean, who could witness a moonset like this at 6:00 am and not be enthusiastic? 

Took my breath away! 

Ralph Waldo Emerson lived from 1803-1882. He graduated from Harvard at the ripe old age of 18. Not too shabby. 

He once wrote this:

"Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines for success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic, be faithful, and you will accomplish your objective."

Then he added:

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

Professors earn their doctorates because they stayed enthusiastic about their academic pursuits. Their classes have students in them because they are enthusiastic about what they're teaching. It's more than content. It's not just what they say. It's that they say it with passion.

I've been a Greek teacher for 49 years and my goal has never changed. I want to see my students equipped and empowered to teach and preach the word of God with credibility, integrity, authority, and enthusiasm. If they're like me, they think Greek during the daytime and dream of it at night. That's why I have never lost the joy of teaching. 

In Rom. 12:11, Paul writes, "in spirit being on fire." 

Here Paul uses the participle as a command: "Be fervent in spirit!" (ESV). 

Other versions say:

Keep your spiritual fervor!

Let us keep the fire of the spirit burning!

Serve the Lord enthusiastically!

Our goal as teachers of Scripture is to help our listeners understand what a passage is saying, what it means, and how it applies. And you teach in a way that is interesting, creative, and illustrative, so that the truth of the Scriptures will burst alive in the minds of those who are hearing the truth proclaimed.

Never underestimate the power of enthusiasm! 

Feels So Good ...

... to be back on the mower again. 

The Only Thing Better ...

Than an hour workout ... 

... and a 9-mile walk to get in your daily steps ...

... is a dinner of oven-baked veggies and a pan fried t-bone steak.😄

"Getting Older"

In our crazy world, it's considered weird to choose walking instead of driving short distances, but it's considered normal to feel tired all the time and blame it on "getting older." 

Being Consistent

Whatever your health and fitness goals might be, don't stop pursuing them. By simply not stopping you will get amazing returns. Your biggest competitive edge is not your genetics or your talent. It's your consistency. 

Meditating on the Bible

Great video here from John Miles.

His channel is a great source of information and I encourage you to check it out. 

Phil. 4:13 Ain't about Self-Achievement

Phil. 4:13 -- we're in chapter 4 of Philippians this week -- is a gravely abused text. It's become a sort of slogan for self-achievement. But look at its context. Paul's saying, "I can do rich and poor, I can do hungry and filled, not because of anything in me. I can get through it simply because I have the strength that Christ gives me."

Paul's point is not that we can achieve anything we work for, but that God enables self-centered people to find their strength in Christ rather than in ourselves. The road to "all-circumstances contentment" is found in Jesus alone. 

That said, let's don't be too quick to judge people we might think are misusing this text. At the Chicago Marathon expo a few years ago, an organization called "Team 4:13" had a booth where they shared the Lord with runners. I loved that. When offered one of their wrist bands to wear during the race I took it and gladly wore it. But my was I was tempted to be judgy! 

Actually a Nice Day

Nice enough, in fact, to get in a run this afternoon. My drive to Farmville was pleasant except for all the "traffic." 

Let's see. How 'bout I run 4.5 miles to Rice, turn around, and then run 4.5 miles back to the High Bridge Trail parking lot? Sounds like a plan.

It takes me about a mile to get into my rhythm. Once there, I'm on autopilot. 

The trail, as usual, was very crowded. 

And thus I got in my daily steps.

Raise your hand if you got in your workout today. 

Did Socrates Lift?

Hey guys. You might not know this, but when I began teaching Greek at Biola, we taught Classical Greek, not Koine Greek. Which means we spent a lot of time in authors like Sophocles, Herodotus, Euripides, Aristophanes, Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle. 

Well, last night I was reading Socrates for fun when I ran across a passage I'd never seen before. Here's the backstory. Socrates bumps into a young man named Epigenes, who was severely out of shape. Socrates told him to get some exercise. Epigenes replies, "But I'm not an athlete." At which point Socrates proceeds to chew him out royally!

Remember, Socrates was himself an Athenian hoplite and had fought a number of battles earlier in life. The only reason he became old was because no one could kill him in battle. Hence the philosopher was also a monster for physical fitness. No citizen, he said, has a right to neglect physical training. All should be as fit as possible. He even makes this statement:

This is traditionally rendered as:

"Besides, it is a disgrace to grow old through sheer carelessness before seeing what manner of man you may become by developing your bodily strength and beauty to their highest limit. But you cannot see that, if you are careless; for it will not come of its own accord."

That's a bit too much of a paraphrase I'm afraid. I might render the Greek this way:

"It is indeed shameful to grow old through neglect before one sees how beautiful and strong he may become in respect to the body. Of course, you can't see the results if you are careless. For they don't happen automatically."

In context, Socrates is not simply encouraging physical exercise. He was speaking to the broader idea of self-improvement -- body, mind, even morals. It's a shame, he says, for a person to grow old and die without exploring their potential, including their potential in terms of health and fitness. Today we might say, "Be all you can be. Live up to your God-given potential." 

I love that! 

You know me. I'm always trying to push past my former accomplishments. You can always become a better version of yourself. Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are "small" things. Remember how Eric Liddell put it in the movie Chariots of Fire? "I believe God made me for China, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure."

This beautiful quote encapsulates the deep connection between physical activity and spirituality, don't you think? Both are meant to be embraced. Each is evidence of personal dedication. Liddell stood out as both a servant of God and an athlete. In both spheres of life he made the joy of the Lord his strength. He truly did all to the glory of God. Paul might have put it this way (1 Cor. 9:24-27):

"Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever. That is why I run straight for the finish line; that is why I am like a boxer who does not waste his punches. I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified after having called others to the contest."

The takeaway?

We should ALL be living our lives to the greatest of our abilities! 

Good Night, Sun

How Walking Helps You Lose Belly Fat

One of the best ways to get and stay healthier is your daily step count. Walking is one of the most underrated forms of exercise. Many people think it's too easy to make any real difference in their body composition. Walking for as little as 20-30 minutes per day directly boosts cardiovascular fitness and decreases blood pressure. When you combine it with proper diet and some strength training, walking is a great way to improve your health. It can definitely make a significant difference to your fat burning process while putting minimum stress on your body as a whole. 

I have found that running (which I LOVE to do) creates more overall systemic stress and can negatively impact your recovery after your weight training workouts, whereas with walking you're not really going to get any of that. If anything, I've found that walking can improve your recovery and your joint health as well as minimize the same level of fatigue as compared to more intense forms of cardio. When you go for a walk you can get that calorie expenditure you're after without feeling exhausted afterwards. Walking about 20,000 steps daily is something I've come to genuinely enjoy and look forward to. 

Today's steps (thus far). 

Just by incorporating that one simple thing into my day has allowed me to lose almost 30 pounds in the past few months. For most people 8,000 steps a day is a reasonable goal to aim for, though there's no real upper limit here. I personally enjoy doing structured walks on the treadmill or the trail while listening to podcasts or Youtube videos. I also walk between sets at the gym. You can physically see how this has helped me get into better shape for my upcoming climb this summer. 

In short, walking is definitely a worthwhile investment and it can really make all the difference in terms of the speed and ease with which you lose any unwanted fat you may be carrying around. Of course, if you're not properly managing your calorie intake, you're still not going to lose weight, so make sure your diet is properly dialed in and your weight training plan is correctly mapped out. 

Have a wonderful evening! 

Better Than a Great Workout!

I feel really good about today's workout. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm not where I used to be. 

But as satisfying as a good workout is, nothing can match the time I spend with the Lord each and every morning. What would happen if I told you that you could have a half hour appointment with Jesus Christ? Suppose I told you that he'd be very glad to meet with you personally to have a 30-minute counseling session with him concerning your needs? You could talk to him about any subject you wanted to. He is going to be available to you for personal counseling! How many of you would rush to clear your calendar so that you could be right there for your appointment? Wouldn't we all like to be where we could spend a half hour with Jesus in person? 

May I suggest something? May I suggest that you start thinking about reading your Bible as being a personal counseling session with Jesus Christ? Every need you have in your life finds an answer wrapped up in the pages of that book! There are so many who don't believe that. They don't read God's word and so they don't know what God has to say to them. God tells each of us how to have an exciting Christian life -- if we will just open the book and hear what he's got to say. 

From the time I was 16, God instilled in me an insatiable desire to read his word. My Bible was the newly published Good News for Modern Man translation. 

I could not put it down. I read the Bible like they were going to take it away from me the next day. I literally chewed up God's word. I still do. I just devour it. Everywhere I go I have a Bible with me so I could open it and see what God is saying to me.

The most neglected area in the lives of defeated Christians is Bible reading. This should be the most exciting part of our day, better even than a great workout. I guarantee that if you read the Bible, Jesus and Paul and Peter and John and James will come alive and romp around in your heart. Don't tell me you don't have time, because nobody "has" time. You make time. Most books of the New Testament can be read in less time than it takes to watch the evening news. When you read your Bible, get your pen out because you're going to run across something good -- real good. You should see the places in my Bible where I have scribbled all over the place. This means God has really spoken to me in those places.

Father, may each of us who knows you have a renewed determination to spend more time in your love letter, the Bible. Thank you for what you're doing in the heart of every person who reads your word! Amen. 

Stretch Your Limitations

Your only competition is in the mirror. 

Enjoying the Journey

Have you noticed? We runners tend to be an over--achieving bunch of people. We beat ourselves up if we don't achieve a PR come race day. I tend to be like this. That's why when I go on a run or enter a race, I go for the experience. In reality, nobody -- not even your family members -- cares that much about your race times. Sure, they want you to be happy and to support you in doing something you truly love to do. But they're not judging you. "Geez, dad didn't get a PR this time around. What's wrong with him?" Don't get me wrong. I think it's great to have goals and get a new PR from time to time. I did this once at the Virginia 10-Miler in Lynchburg. 

It was my best time at this distance ever. 

But I'm realistic about my running. At best, I'm pretty much a back of the packer. I typically go into a race knowing that I'll do my best but that others will do better than me. I think I've developed a really healthy and positive attitude toward racing. I think it's because even though I take my goals seriously, my spirit of competitiveness doesn't have to interfere with being happy with myself as a runner. I just usually go out to see what happens. I just let it go and be present. I have a good time and embrace the moment. I tell myself that my best race is still out there, that my greatest Alpine climb is still in the future, that my best book is yet to be written. I also tell myself to enjoy the journey and do the best I can :-)

The Jesus Prayer

Elisabeth Elliot's book Keep a Quiet Heart discusses what she calls "the Jesus Prayer." 

The prayer arose over 1,000 years ago. It goes like this: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on my a sinner." It's easy to see why this prayer has endured. Its single request is a wonderful summary of everything a believer might ask of the Lord -- "Have mercy on me." We all are truly sinners. We have no claim on forgiveness except through the pure, shining mercy of God. Elisabeth Elliot notes that when her husband was dying of cancer, they often prayed the Jesus Prayer together. She concludes: "I recommend it to you."

So do I. 

You CAN Do Pull Ups

If you can't do a bodyweight pull up yet, my friend, that's fine. Start with an easier version of the exercise. This includes one of my favorite pull up variations that I still do today -- the band-assisted pull up. Try doing a couple of sets each week. Eventually you'll work up to performing a regular pull up. 

Have a wonderful day! 

Visit to Appomattox Court House (April 9, 2025)

Walking into the village. 

The surrender house.

The village.

Ranger talk. 

Humorous anecdote from Grant. 

The fight was finally over on this solemn Palm Sunday. The men in the Union ranks set about celebrating, their artillery firing salutes in honor of the victory. Grant ordered them to stop, asserting, "We do not want to exult over their downfall." 

In reaching this small county seat, over 618,000 Americans had died. Now the survivors just wanted to end the war with honor, go home, and begin their lives again. Unforgettably on display this day 160 years ago was the humanity, chivalry, and gentleness of U. S. Grant. 

Want to Race? Be Sure to Sign Up!

Recently I talked to someone who said they wanted to run their first half marathon. I asked, "Have you signed up for one yet?" The answer was, "No, but I know I need to. Then I'll truly be committed."

I couldn't agree more.

Some runners never race. Many are content to run for their health and never feel the need to become a part of an organized race. I applaud their dedication to running. But a part of me wishes they would consider the additional joy and excitement that comes with the celebration you experience on race day. 

Every starting line holds the potential for greatness.

Below: Running my first ultramarathon on the High Bridge Trail. I had never raced 32 miles before. There were about 60 runners. I started at the back with no one behind me. And that's exactly where I finished. But finish I did. I celebrated with as much enthusiasm as the front runners. I knew I was hooked the moment the race finished. The emotions that come with crossing the finish line are just as powerful for the last finisher as for the first. 

What Is a Via Ferrata?

Let's climb one and find out.

You don't need to go to the Alps to do some pretty scary climbing. Check out this ascent of a via ferrata I did a few years ago in West Virginia.

Highly recommended! 

This Day in Civil War History

The 8th of April, 1865 (160 years ago today), was a relatively quiet day for both armies. The Confederates continued to move westward and caught their first glimpse of the Blue Ridge mountains, 40 miles away. Around 9:00 am, the first of 4 messages sent by Grant to Lee arrived at the rear of the Confederate column. Grant asked Lee to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia. 

Meanwhile, Grant's army was moving into position to cut off Lee's escape route. About 8 miles west of Farmville, the Federal columns went into bivouac at Prospect Station on the Southside Railroad. (Prospect is an aid station on the 32-mile ultramarathon course I've run 3 times.) Later, at Appomattox Station, Union forces captured the Confederate supply trains coming from Lynchburg. The supplies, intended for Lee's army, were handed out to George Custer's men.

The next day, April 9, 1865, Lee would surrender.

Here's the schedule for tomorrow's 160th commemoration of the surrender at the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. I plan to be present. Maybe I'll see you there. 

Loving Me Some Gym Time

Seeing that I was traveling over the weekend and was in Wake Forest yesterday, it felt so good to get back to the Y today after my time with the Lord. 

Lots of people ask me if I am on PEDS or TRT. Nope. Just injecting myself with lots of exercise and swallowing high doses of daily steps. 

Today I weighed in at 214 (first time in years!). My goal weight is 210 205 (or even 200). 

In addition to walking every day, I try to get in one long run every week as I hope to be able to run until I'm 90. (I'm pretty sure they make running shorts with built-in Depends. If they don't, I'm inventing them. Don't steal my idea.) 

Listen you whiner. You get to be active. There are many people who can't even walk. Take a look around. Half the people you see are overweight or obese. Be grateful you can exercise whenever you want. Don't overthink things. Just lace up your shoes and go. 

The "Want" to Obey God (Phil. 2:13)

I love this promise in Phil. 2:13: "For God is at work in you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants."

How wonderful to know that God is constantly at work within us, helping us want to obey him. We can never obey God without this "want" to do so. When I think that God is helping Dave Black obey him my heart just cries out in love for him!

Finally!

The American Battlefield Trust has FINALLY done a video about my favorite Civil War site in all of Southern Virginia. Check it out you if you dare! 

Lingering Lessons from Philippians 3

Wrapping up chapter 3 of the book of Philippians today. Here are some lasting lessons from this amazing chapter. 

It's Raining!

We're enjoying a much needed slow, drenching, "farmer's" rain -- necessary for our many fields. Praise the Lord! 

Weekend Odds and Ends

1. There aren't many days I can remember with crystal clarify a year later, but April 6, 2024 will stay in my mind forever. On that day I weighed exactly 240 pounds. It showed. 

A year later I'm 215 pounds. I'm still not where I want to be, but I'm not where I used to be, and I am SO thankful. Wars are won by many battles, large and small, fought in many places. 

2. I preached revival services in northern Virginia yesterday and today. ("Revival" is a Southern thang, y'all.) 

I loved hearing the old hymns being sung. Doesn't happen much anymore. 

3. On the drive up I made a brief stop at the Chancellorsville Battlefield. 

This time I skipped a visit to "the arm," which rests in the shades of the woods at a house called Elwood. Jackson, as second in command to Lee, had no business being out in front of not only his front lines but his skirmishers. But Jackson's attack produced the desired rout. The night before, Union commander Joe Hooker announced to his men, "... our enemy must either ingloriously fly or come out from behind his entrenchments and give us battle on our own ground, where certain destruction awaits him." He added, "God Almighty will not be able to prevent the destruction of the rebel army."

Pride certainly does go before a fall.

4. When I got home the house was hot. As in 86 degrees. So for the first time this year I had to turn on the air conditioner. The next thing you know I'll be mowing grass. 

5. As I preached I reflected on some lessons I've learned through the years, not least that the purpose of a good sermon introduction is do three things: introduce the subject, create interest and goodwill, and touch a felt need in the audience. It's also important to express biblical truth through the personality God has given you. Never try to duplicate what others do. Be thyself.

6. Be thankful. We don't become grateful by trying to be grateful. We count our blessings and "name them one by one." Grant me, Lord, a grateful heart!

Big Lessons from the Greek Games (Phil. 3:12-16)

When Paul wrote Philippians, the Olympic Games had been around for 700 years. And though the early Christians had reservations about the Greek games -- not least the invocation of the gods and all the violence -- it didn't stop writers like Paul from pulling big lessons from the games about spiritual reality. "Learn from those athletes," Paul might have said. "Start with ditching your small ambitions. Be as passionate about your Christianity as athletes are about sports."

In Phil. 3:12-16 there's an image of a racecourse stretching out before a runner who's pressing on to reach the finish line and win the prize. Paul is emphatic: He hasn't yet attained complete knowledge of Christ. Yet that doesn't discourage him. Instead, his imperfect knowledge drives him on to know Christ more and more.

Think of a marathon runner. You have a consuming desire to run the race. You're almost obsessed with it. In a sense, the total focus of your life is to finish the race. The fact that the race is long and arduous doesn't dampen your ardor in the least. Rather, the challenge drives you forward. The unimaginably difficult distance doesn't deter you. You're keenly aware of the immensity of the task. It's difficulty could easily paralyze you if you let it. Nevertheless, the reason you signed up for the race is precisely because of the greatness of the effort involved. As a consequence, you set out on the course to see whether you have what it takes to complete it successfully. Past attainments are forgotten. The only thing that matters now is continual concentration. Your head is fixed forward, never glancing backward over your shoulder. With resolute determination, you pursue the end of the course. 

If that doesn't describe the Christian life!

Thankfully, Paul doesn't expect us to achieve everything on our own. There is a God who is in charge of it all, whose purpose is to make us like his Son. As we obey the truth he's already given us, he himself will take control of the process. 

In the meantime, like Paul we have not yet "arrived." We are still on the way. 

Finishing the St. George Marathon in Utah. Of my 20 marathons, this race remains my PR.