Official results from the Clowne Half Marathon have been published. Very pleased with my time, 1:43.20 which is over 2 minutes quicker than last time. My mate Rob was also pleased, in at 1:45.26 which is his quickest half marathon to date. 226th out of 484 finishing - not too bad!
Monday, November 29, 2004
Friday, November 26, 2004
Keep on Running
When the bug bites…!
I will be running my second half-marathon this Sunday. It’s the Clowne Half, again this is just a local run with about 500 to 600 contestants.
My running mate, Rob, will be with me this time. He’s hoping he can keep up with me! Actually we’re about the same pace so I don’t think he needs to worry.
Will let you know how I get on.
I will be running my second half-marathon this Sunday. It’s the Clowne Half, again this is just a local run with about 500 to 600 contestants.
My running mate, Rob, will be with me this time. He’s hoping he can keep up with me! Actually we’re about the same pace so I don’t think he needs to worry.
Will let you know how I get on.
Thursday, November 25, 2004
My Flexible Friend
I accept there are somethings in life you would never move from. BUT without wanting to sound too contradictory one of my pet hates is inflexibility. So often flexibility is the vital ingredient in life that brings joy and a breath of fresh air!
"Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail." - Lao-tzu
"The bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you refuse to take the turn". – Anon
"Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail." - Lao-tzu
"The bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you refuse to take the turn". – Anon
The Big Picture
This is a great read from Baggas who is a Family Doctor in Perth, Western Australia. Makes you think!
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
20Q
Check out this 20Q website where the AI will try to figure out what you are thinking of by asking you 20 questions. It’s pretty accurate.
I’m a (kind of) Celebrity….Get Me A Job!
The popular TV show is with us again, here in the UK. The feeling is of deja vu after the first couple of days. This time it is Natalie Appleton (who?), formerly of girl band ‘All Saints’, who has taken up the mantle of the whinging whining contestant who say’s she doesn’t like the jungle et al. What did she expect?!
My suspicion is that this is the recognised tactic of someone who really wants to win (agents advice?!)...or am I getting too cynical? The Brits love to see them suffer, so she will be hard to get rid of.
My suspicion is that this is the recognised tactic of someone who really wants to win (agents advice?!)...or am I getting too cynical? The Brits love to see them suffer, so she will be hard to get rid of.
Monday, November 22, 2004
Seizing the Day
Here’s one way to get your message across....or not as the case may be!
There must be more creative ways of delivering this theme....?
There must be more creative ways of delivering this theme....?
Friday, November 19, 2004
LG Fruit
I will be sharing in church this Sunday on ‘Bearing Fruit’, in particular ‘life-giving’ fruit.
Proverbs 11:30: The godly are like trees that bear life-giving fruit, and those who save lives are wise.
Have you seen the Tango ads? The one I really love is the one with postman posting the last apple through the letterbox and the last drop of juice causes the ceiling to give way and the guy in the cellar gets drenched in gallons of apple juice.
We were created to bear fruit…good fruit! Fruit that positively effects and impacts the world we live in.
Some keys for being and remaining fruitful:
Be a good tree…stay connected to Jesus: John 1:1-4 (1) "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (2) He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (3) You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. (4) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
AND stay fresh (even in old age!!)…be planted in the House of God (the Church):
Proverbs 92:12-14 (12) The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; (13) planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. (14) They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.
Proverbs 11:30: The godly are like trees that bear life-giving fruit, and those who save lives are wise.
Have you seen the Tango ads? The one I really love is the one with postman posting the last apple through the letterbox and the last drop of juice causes the ceiling to give way and the guy in the cellar gets drenched in gallons of apple juice.
We were created to bear fruit…good fruit! Fruit that positively effects and impacts the world we live in.
Some keys for being and remaining fruitful:
Be a good tree…stay connected to Jesus: John 1:1-4 (1) "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (2) He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (3) You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. (4) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
AND stay fresh (even in old age!!)…be planted in the House of God (the Church):
Proverbs 92:12-14 (12) The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; (13) planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. (14) They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Born to Run?
Here’s a news item sent to me today from (news.com.au) written by Patricia Reaney in London. (Thanks to Paul for this)
Humans were born to run and evolved from ape-like creatures into the way they look today probably because of the need to cover long distances and compete for food, scientists said today.
From tendons and ligaments in the legs and feet that act like springs and skull features that help prevent overheating, to well-defined buttocks that stabilise the body, the human anatomy is shaped for running.
"We do it because we are good at it. We enjoy it and we have all kinds of specialisation’s that permit us to run well," said Daniel Liberman, a professor of anthropology at Harvard University in Massachusetts.
"There are all kinds of features that we see in the human body that are critical for running," he told Reuters.
Prof. Liberman and Dennis Bramble, a biology professor at the University of Utah, studied more than two dozen traits that increase humans' ability to run. Their research is reported in the science journal Nature.
They suspect modern humans evolved from their ape-like ancestors about 2 million years ago so they could hunt and scavenge for food over large distances.
But the development of physical features that enabled humans to run entailed a trade off - the loss of traits that were useful for being a tree-climber.
"We are very confident that strong selection for running - which came at the expense of the historical ability to live in trees – was instrumental in the origin of the modern human body form," Prof. Bramble said in a statement.
The conventional theory is that running was a by-product of bipedalism, or the ability to walk upright on two legs, that evolved in ape-like human ancestors called Australopithecus at least 4.5 million years ago.
But Profs. Liberman and Bramble argue that it took a few million more years for the running physique to evolve, so the ability to walk cannot explain the transition.
"There were 2.5 million to 3 million years of bipedal walking without ever looking like a human, so is walking going to be what suddenly transforms the hominid body?" said Prof. Bramble.
"We're saying 'no, walking won't do that, but running will.'"
If natural selection did not favour running, the scientists believe humans would still look a lot like apes.
"Running has substantially shaped human evolution. Running made us human - at least in the anatomical sense," Prof. Bramble added.
Among the features that set humans apart from apes to make them good runners are longer legs to take longer strides, shorter forearms to enable the upper body to counterbalance the lower half during running and larger disks which allow for better shock absorption.
Big buttocks are also important.
"Have you ever looked at an ape? They have no buns," said Prof. Bramble.
Humans lean forward when they run and the buttocks "keep you from pitching over on your nose each time a foot hits the ground," he added.
My thoughts...is this a chicken and the egg thing? 'Running made us human'....or created to run?
Humans were born to run and evolved from ape-like creatures into the way they look today probably because of the need to cover long distances and compete for food, scientists said today.
From tendons and ligaments in the legs and feet that act like springs and skull features that help prevent overheating, to well-defined buttocks that stabilise the body, the human anatomy is shaped for running.
"We do it because we are good at it. We enjoy it and we have all kinds of specialisation’s that permit us to run well," said Daniel Liberman, a professor of anthropology at Harvard University in Massachusetts.
"There are all kinds of features that we see in the human body that are critical for running," he told Reuters.
Prof. Liberman and Dennis Bramble, a biology professor at the University of Utah, studied more than two dozen traits that increase humans' ability to run. Their research is reported in the science journal Nature.
They suspect modern humans evolved from their ape-like ancestors about 2 million years ago so they could hunt and scavenge for food over large distances.
But the development of physical features that enabled humans to run entailed a trade off - the loss of traits that were useful for being a tree-climber.
"We are very confident that strong selection for running - which came at the expense of the historical ability to live in trees – was instrumental in the origin of the modern human body form," Prof. Bramble said in a statement.
The conventional theory is that running was a by-product of bipedalism, or the ability to walk upright on two legs, that evolved in ape-like human ancestors called Australopithecus at least 4.5 million years ago.
But Profs. Liberman and Bramble argue that it took a few million more years for the running physique to evolve, so the ability to walk cannot explain the transition.
"There were 2.5 million to 3 million years of bipedal walking without ever looking like a human, so is walking going to be what suddenly transforms the hominid body?" said Prof. Bramble.
"We're saying 'no, walking won't do that, but running will.'"
If natural selection did not favour running, the scientists believe humans would still look a lot like apes.
"Running has substantially shaped human evolution. Running made us human - at least in the anatomical sense," Prof. Bramble added.
Among the features that set humans apart from apes to make them good runners are longer legs to take longer strides, shorter forearms to enable the upper body to counterbalance the lower half during running and larger disks which allow for better shock absorption.
Big buttocks are also important.
"Have you ever looked at an ape? They have no buns," said Prof. Bramble.
Humans lean forward when they run and the buttocks "keep you from pitching over on your nose each time a foot hits the ground," he added.
My thoughts...is this a chicken and the egg thing? 'Running made us human'....or created to run?
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Do they know it's Christmas?
The new Band Aid single has come in for a bit of a slating. I must say I’ve not listened to it as yet so I can’t really comment. If the vote on the BBC link has anything to go by it doesn’t sound too good!
Although as they always say on these polls….’results are indicative and may not reflect public opinion’.
Although as they always say on these polls….’results are indicative and may not reflect public opinion’.
Monday, November 15, 2004
Are You Sleeping?
Great message spoken by our Pastor, Paul Benger, at church last night. It was entitled, 'My God, My Shield, My Glory and the Lifter of My Head', taken from Psalm 3. King David wrote this Psalm when he was being pursued by his enemies.
(1) O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. (2) So many are saying, "God will never rescue him!" (3) But you, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high. (4) I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy mountain. (5) I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me. (6) I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side. (7) Arise, O LORD! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked! (8) Victory comes from you, O LORD. May your blessings rest on your people.
Very often when we are troubled by something our sleep is effected. We can’t get any! Insomnia effects most of us at some point in our lives. Like David (vs 5) it’s great when you are able to go to bed, sleep and wake up the next morning knowing that God is with you, He is for you!
Here’s the link to Paul’s notes from last night. It’s a PDF file....I trust you are able to read it!
Sleep well!
(1) O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. (2) So many are saying, "God will never rescue him!" (3) But you, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high. (4) I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy mountain. (5) I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me. (6) I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side. (7) Arise, O LORD! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked! (8) Victory comes from you, O LORD. May your blessings rest on your people.
Very often when we are troubled by something our sleep is effected. We can’t get any! Insomnia effects most of us at some point in our lives. Like David (vs 5) it’s great when you are able to go to bed, sleep and wake up the next morning knowing that God is with you, He is for you!
Here’s the link to Paul’s notes from last night. It’s a PDF file....I trust you are able to read it!
Sleep well!
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Murder in the Orient
Tonight we're doing one of those murder mystery nights set around a meal. The theme is the Orient...I guess that means Chinese food! My sister is hosting the party.
My character is called Major Blunder, a Senior Diplomat. Smartly dressed in a suit, waistcoat, bow-tie. Also wearing a monacle and a moustache!
I've done a few of these now but never been the murderer....maybe tonight!
The best and worst one we ever did was when my wife played the tape at the wrong point at the end which revealed who the murderer was before we'd all had a chance to guess who it was!! What a star!
My character is called Major Blunder, a Senior Diplomat. Smartly dressed in a suit, waistcoat, bow-tie. Also wearing a monacle and a moustache!
I've done a few of these now but never been the murderer....maybe tonight!
The best and worst one we ever did was when my wife played the tape at the wrong point at the end which revealed who the murderer was before we'd all had a chance to guess who it was!! What a star!
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Happiness is...
Here’s something I will be sharing tomorrow night at our ‘Chatroom’ event for teenagers.
What is happiness?
Now lots of clever people have tried to work out what it is that makes us truly happy.
Some people think it boils down to three things:
The Bible speaks of Happiness:
(Psalm 144:15) ‘Happy are those who are like this; happy are the people whose God is the Lord’
Jesus said…(John 10:10) ‘I came to give life - life in all its fullness’
(Proverbs 16:20) ‘Whoever trusts the Lord will be happy’
Conclusion
What makes YOU happy?
What is happiness?
Now lots of clever people have tried to work out what it is that makes us truly happy.
Some people think it boils down to three things:
- Someone to love
- Something to do (purpose in life)
- Something to look forward to (the future)
The Bible speaks of Happiness:
(Psalm 144:15) ‘Happy are those who are like this; happy are the people whose God is the Lord’
Jesus said…(John 10:10) ‘I came to give life - life in all its fullness’
(Proverbs 16:20) ‘Whoever trusts the Lord will be happy’
Conclusion
- If we get to know God (there will be somebody to love)
- He gives us purpose in life
- Because he gives us a future we have something to look forward to
What makes YOU happy?
Monday, November 08, 2004
Birthday Girl
My wife, Jane, celebrates her ?? birthday today. Apparently you never mention a woman’s age after the age of 30 and I’ve been faithful to my word for 7 years.....I’m like that.
I nearly bought her a card that said, ‘I dropped a tear in the ocean. The day you find it is the day I will stop loving you’. Nice. I didn’t buy her that one just in case she found it.
I went for the more racy card. I guess I'm like that as well!
I nearly bought her a card that said, ‘I dropped a tear in the ocean. The day you find it is the day I will stop loving you’. Nice. I didn’t buy her that one just in case she found it.
I went for the more racy card. I guess I'm like that as well!
Geek Moment
Just having a geek moment. Read this article…..it will (should) blow your mind. It’s amazing to think what is just around the corner when it comes to all things computer.
I remember my old ZX81 with its 1K of memory and my excitement when I got the 16K expansion. Now it’s all Terabytes and Teraflops.
I remember my old ZX81 with its 1K of memory and my excitement when I got the 16K expansion. Now it’s all Terabytes and Teraflops.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Marathon Des Sables
You know that feeling, when you’ve achieved something for the first time you feel like you could take on anything?
Here’s the ultimate race, the Marathon des Sables. Run in the Sahara Desert over a steady 240 kilometres (151 miles) in 6 days, temperatures topping 120°F.
One day maybe....?!
Here’s the ultimate race, the Marathon des Sables. Run in the Sahara Desert over a steady 240 kilometres (151 miles) in 6 days, temperatures topping 120°F.
One day maybe....?!
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Old Chinese Proverb Say....
Lionfish quoted a great Chinese proverb the other day concerning procrastination, ‘Man who waits for roast duck to fly into mouth must wait very, very long time."
This reminded me of a few other Chinese proverbs....
This reminded me of a few other Chinese proverbs....
- Man with one chopstick go hungry
- Man who go to bed with coat-hanger in mouth wake up with smile on face
- Man who eat many prunes get good run for money
- War does not determine who is right, war determine who is left
- Man who keep feet firmly on ground have trouble putting on pants
Sunday Night
We had another great time in church on Sunday night. Paul spoke from Joshua 18:1-10, concerning possessing the land. His title was, ‘It’s time to take up your possession!’
Verse 3: ‘How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord has given you?’
What I loved….4 lessons that help us, as a church, to possess the land God has given us.
1) Survey the Land (4) Select three men from each tribe, and I will send them out to survey the unconquered territory. Don’t bury your head in the sand….find out what’s happening out there! What is there left to possess….refresh your vision.
2) Know what God has given you (3) …the land the Lord has given you. Do you question God? ‘Did God really say…..?’ Just like the Devil sowed the seed of doubt into Eve’s mind, he still does the same today. Don’t believe the lie!
3) Do it now! As in the Nike advert.....’Just do it’ Joshua 1:6-7 (6) "Be strong and courageous, for you will lead my people to possess all the land I swore to give their ancestors. (7) Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do.
4) Fight! (4)…..I will send them out to survey the unconquered territory. The land had to be possessed….conquered. We are in a fight for the souls of men and women. We are also, as a church believing for a building of our own, that there is one out there with our name on it!
Verse 3: ‘How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord has given you?’
What I loved….4 lessons that help us, as a church, to possess the land God has given us.
1) Survey the Land (4) Select three men from each tribe, and I will send them out to survey the unconquered territory. Don’t bury your head in the sand….find out what’s happening out there! What is there left to possess….refresh your vision.
2) Know what God has given you (3) …the land the Lord has given you. Do you question God? ‘Did God really say…..?’ Just like the Devil sowed the seed of doubt into Eve’s mind, he still does the same today. Don’t believe the lie!
3) Do it now! As in the Nike advert.....’Just do it’ Joshua 1:6-7 (6) "Be strong and courageous, for you will lead my people to possess all the land I swore to give their ancestors. (7) Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do.
4) Fight! (4)…..I will send them out to survey the unconquered territory. The land had to be possessed….conquered. We are in a fight for the souls of men and women. We are also, as a church believing for a building of our own, that there is one out there with our name on it!
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