Should I Ride

Last night before our middle school youth group started I got to play a little football with some of the guys . We had a wonderful time and my arm was holding out very well although I still need to work on my throwing arm although it is getting better.

After we came in to start The Element [our middle school group] one of the leaders was getting on my case started gettting on me and saying I shouldn’t be playing football because of my arm. That person got really upset when I said I had started riding my mountain bike again. My only comment was that I couldn’t just sit on the couch and let life pass me by.

I only write this to ask was I wrong to say what I said. I still feel very strongly about reaching the mountain bike and cycling community with the gospel and the only way to do that is to be out there riding with them. Since God has healed me I fell completely comfortable riding again. Should I?

Facing my demons

I am thankful to say that after my mountain bike accident on November 1st 2007 that left my upper right arm shattered that today was my first day back on the mountain bike. After my Saturday morning bible study I thought it would be a great time to take my mountain bike to Tuckahoe State Park and try my shoulder and arm out. The ride went very well and the suspension on my bike took alot of the stress off my arm. I have just started riding my road bike with no problem but I was afraid I would never be able to get back on my mountain bike again. I wasn’t able to ride as fast as I normally would [I blame that on the extra 15 to 20 pounds I gained] but at times when I came upon a little tricky section of trail I found myself second guessing myself but for the most part rode on through.

I saved the area were I had my accident which I have been dreading for the last 5 months for last. I was able to face that demon and rode off the bridge with out incident. Although I was hoping to be able to piece together what happened but that wasn’t to be.

I want to thank everyone who has prayed for me over the last 5 months. Even though my arm isn’t anywhere near 100% I am still able to do just about everything with it that I used to.

The Greatest wife ever!!!!

I am very pleased that today is my 13th wedding anniversary. Lori is the worlds greatest wife. In the last 13 years we have seen our share of hardships but we have just grown closer together through them.

Even though we haven’t really seen each other over the last two weeks because of work and other commitments we were blessed to have a morning and afternoon to ourselves. There is nothing like spending nice quiet time with your life and soul mate. I can honestly say that I love Lori more now than I did 13 years ago although I did not think it possible.

I would encourage you if you are married to spend  time enjoying each others company and growing together.

ToC part2

With all the excitement I had for following the Tour of California I was only able to watch last Saturdays stage. I don’t even know who offically won my guess would be Levi. Although from what I heard Slipstream did very well. I am very happy that there did not seem to be any real doping scandals this time. I hope that is how it will be for the rest of the season.

Tour Of California

As a huge fan of cycling both road and mountain I am very exited about the start of the racing season this Sunday with the beginning of the Amgen Tour Of California. From what I have read on various cycling websites the organisers have done alot with the whole doping problem. Even with all the problems with doping last year I am very optomistic about this year. It is my hope that the teams will step up and help with the fight agaist those who would dope. That is why I like Team Slipstream so much.

 Hope you get to enjoy the Tour. I know the versus network will be covering part of the race.

        Go Team Slipstream

Sheldon Brown

I just found out today that on February 4th the cycling world has lost one the greatest bike mechanics in American cycling history. Sheldon Brown was one of the most influential mechanics in modern cycling and has written many books on the subject. He also was very helpful on bikefuroms.com where he would answer questions from mechanics at no cost. I personnaly never had the honor of meeting him but I have learned a great deal from his books and forums.

Please pray for his family and friends at Harris Cycles where he worked. He will be dearly missed.

trust

For the last couple of weeks I have been meeting with a group of 4 other men in a very close and open bible study. Anyone who has known me for a few years can tell you that in general I am a very closed introverted person. I guess the reason for that is when I was younger when ever I got close to someone and really open up I ended up getting burned and used.

I honestly feel that is not the case with this group. The 4 other men in this bible study seem to accept me and are concerned about me as a person and not what  I can do for them. I look forward to growing in my spiritual walk and growing closer to these men and learning how to trust

Staying Busy

I had planned on writing again earlier this week but isn’t it funny how fast we can get so busy. Even though I have been busy I have been enjoying it. The only problem was last night at The Element my church’s middle school ministry. We were down our 2 women youth leaders and one of them was supposed to teach and when I found out she couldn’t make it I think I had a half hour to but together a lesson. I felt very bad about that since I believe when you are teaching you should do the best you can and not just throw a lesson together.

One good thing that has been a plus for me being busy is I know how important it is for me to spend time with my family so they don’t suffer. Some times it takes sacrifice but it is one I have learned that is necessary and fulfilling at the same time.

Back to work

Last week I started working for an accountant friend of mine. I started last year scanning documents and burning cds for clients. I guess I did an ok job because he wanted me to come back this year. It works out good for me because January and February are really slow times in the bike industry so I have that income during those months.

Although it looks like I may have to get another job after April 15th because my wife is pregnant with our fourth child and the baby is due August 12th. I don’t know if it is lack of faith or what but I don’t think we would be able to make it on what the bike shop brings in.

I have closed out the LLC because the LLC taxes about wiped me out. I did get a business licence under my name so I can still work on bikes although I would be happy just working on bikes as a ministry.

I would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and faith to follow Gods will through this exiting time

Question

I know it has been awhile since I wrote and I am sorry about that. January has been a very busy month. I have also kind of been on a spiritual pilgrimage. I have been having a lot of questions and doing a lot of soul searching about what I believe and why I believe it. One of the things that has helped me was a book by Don Miller “Through Painted Desert”

The main point I got from that book was I

 should be asking the why questions instead of the how questions. What I mean by that is why God made man and created this world. Instead of the how can i get rich, how can I get the next lighter carbon fiber bike how can I get a bigger house, etc,etc.

I pray that I have come out of January a better person with a closer walk with Jesus and others.