Image courtesy of Stephen Bell, Oklahoma Christian University.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth….For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God,who is at the Father’s side,he has made him known.

What is so tremendous about this passage and others like it, is that our God came to earth in human flesh! Many other religions hate the body (as seen through deprivation or punishment) or seek to better their fleshly position in the next life. Other belief systems raise the soul above the body, indulging in any earthly pleasure with the assumption that their soul is all that must remain pure. However, in Christianity, Jesus became flesh with all its hurt, joy, and sorrow. In fact, “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [Christ].” Colossians 1:19.

Here is a religion where what we do with our bodies matters because it’s what Christ did with his physical body on the cross that brings us into a relationship with God. In fact, we are commanded to worship God with our bodies. “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 (Also in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Luke 10:27.)

Of course, we must focus on our soul’s development as we become sanctified. But what I find exciting, compelling, inspiring is that our bodies matter! We can use them to worship and our strength is a means of worship. Running, walking, cycling, swimming, any athletic pursuit can be a means of worship. Yes, by working for the Lord and not for man, but also perhaps even through a group like Team OneVerse?

If, as Paul writes in Galatians 5:6, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love,” then if I use my ability to run as a way to spread God’s love, I’m demonstrating my faith. Christianity is exciting because it infuses every area of my life with the ability to share God’s love — my heart, mind, and strength. Whatever your ability or interest, certainly use your mind and words to show God’s love, but don’t miss out on the opportunity to use your body as well. It doesn’t have to be by winning a race; it could simply be walking weekly with a group of friends, praying and raising awareness through your physical actions of the great need for Bible translation.

How can you use your body to worship this year?

If you’re going to run outside, you have to layer up so you’re warm! Working at a running store on the side gives me a lot of time to window shop. I certainly can’t buy it all, so here are some of my favorite winter combinations that will get you out the door, running or walking warm, and hey, looking stylish in the process!

Today’s look is for women and by Adidas! Be sure to start with a base layer, then add a warmer layer over that. For me, keeping my head warm is really important. I know the shoes don’t match, but they’re what I’m currently running in!

• How I feel at the beginning of a run (good or bad, but typically bad) does not necessarily equal how I feel at the end of a run. I’m not talking about the supposed “runner’s high” or anything, because it’s the same across the board for ANYTHING you do–you could start out feeling horrible but then be surprised at the end if you just persist (if only because you persisted). 
• It is always worth it to have a plan and stick to it. 
• You can always go farther than you think you can. When I first started running, I never ran more than 3 miles. It was way too hard. Impossible. Then I signed up for a 10k and had to, and I was able to do it (without dying!). Then I did a half-marathon, then a marathon. They all seemed really out of reach when I was looking at my tiny little 3 miles runs, but if you go a little farther than you think you can consistently, over time you’ll be able to do things you never thought you could do before.
• I have more motivation when I run for a cause. Eventually I started praying for the Rutara and all things/people associated with the translation – that helped me keep going.
• Training for my first half marathon taught me what it looked like to train for a goal. My goal was not to complete each day’s training; my goal was to finish the race and each day of training was necessary to get there. It wasn’t like if I missed a day I could just say, “Oh well, I’ll try again tomorrow.” It’s like the difference in softening butter when you make cookies. You can either be patient and, planning ahead, set out the butter and wait for it to warm to room temp. Or you can throw it in the microwave. The latter shortcut affects your cookies. You’ll get cookies either way, but they’ll be much better if you go the patient route!

• It’s much easier to train for something (like a race) than to just train for no reason.
• “Keep going!” is much more motivating than “Don’t stop!” 
• The hardest part is getting out the door. Once you’re halfway down the street there’s no turning back. As tired as you think you are, just get out the door and you’ll be fine. When you start running, you forget about all the reasons you can’t get started (you already have), and focus on how long you have until you’re done. Get your shoes on. Get out the door. 
• Cotton is Rotten
• It is okay to have a bad run…the next one is always better
• Don’t worry about getting the coolest gear or the right technical stuff – just worry about your form. Once you get that down you will look more like a elite runner than those who blow hundreds of dollars on gear.
• If anything hurts, it is probably caused by shoes, so go to a running store for shoes.
• Know the proper etiquette of running: run against traffic, don’t spit when someone is behind you, do not have change in your pocket when running with someone because the rattling is awful, etc.
• Set goals for yourself and always look ahead for your next one.
• Running hills isn’t something you just do as part of training, but you do it to build those different muscles that aren’t built by running on flat surfaces.
• The training determines how I get from start to finish. Finishing is a given; I know I’ll finish.
• Running a long loop is way better than running out to a point then retracing your steps.

Now get out there and run!

Check it out:

And here is the same passage translated back into English by the
team for review by the consultant:
“In the olden days, God spoke through his gifted people (prophets)
to our (incl.) ancestors little by little at many times in many ways, but
now in these last days has spoken to us (incl.) through his Son, whom
he appointed as heir of all things, and (also) through whom he made
the whole world; This Son is the reflection of God’s light/glory and He
is exactly like God and He runs (makes to function) all the things of
the Universe by his powerful word. Having washed (cleansed) people’s
sin’s guilt, he sat at the important seat (space) at the right hand of God
in heaven (to rule). Just as he, by inheritance, obtained the special
name than the name of the angels, like that he has become very
special than them” (Hebrews 1:1-4, Rutara back translation).

So cool!

As an adult runner, I know I’m supposed to stretch. I do a yoga class about once every two months. I know the standard quad, hamstring, and calf stretches. You may even see me awkwardly stretched on the ground to loosen up my IT band. But overall, stretching is seen as this passive, unproductive thing that you only do when you’re hurt.

And sadly, this is the same attitude I have with prayer. Stretching and prayer are after-thoughts, things I do when there’s pain or trouble. But when running and life are working out just fine, I let these fundamental disciplines slide until I’m hurt again.

At church this morning, my pastor preached on the extreme importance of prayer, especially while looking into a new year. It convicted me in a huge way, so I wanted to share some of his thoughts in my own words as I wrestle to understand why prayer matters.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. I Timothy 2:1-2

In the first chapter of I Timothy, Paul demonstrates the importance of the gospel and then immediately turns Timothy to prayer. When we understand the weight of Christ’s work, the first thing we must do is pray! But we often do not. Why? Because prayer demonstrates my dependence on Jesus and my pride is often unwilling to admit that. Prayer doesn’t feel productive; it feels passive and makes me realize that my actions really have nothing to do with God’s will being enacted on earth. Everything I do is through his power.

What I need to remember is that prayer IS the work, not preparation for the work. When I hear the gospel and see the need, I should pray first, not do.

Yes, I do need to make stretching part of my regular running regime because it loosens my muscles, allows me to relax and recover, and helps guard against injury. In a similar way, and to a much greater extent, I need prayer in my daily life. It loosens my grip on the world, lets me relax into God’s plan and recover from the chaos and stress around me, and helps guard against sin and temptation.

Let 2012 be the year we learn how to pray and understand that it IS the work that is most important for those who understand the gospel and the world’s great need.

Image courtesy of Stephen Bell, Oklahoma Christian University.