DUDE!

I have always viewed running as something to be done in short bursts, never for a long period of time. However, as we get older there comes the need to get in shape and stay in some semblance of shape, thus running seems like a necessary evil kind of thing.

So, my friend Greg was discussing with me his high cholesterol yesterday and we were talking about it and he brought up the horrific question: "Do you run?". The conversation then began to include our wives and before you know it we decided that I should join him on his daily run and it would be a good thing.

Tell, me, what good can come out of a three mile run when one has not run for over three years?

After the first hundred yards I had already hit the wall! Yikes.

We pressed on. The talking got less and less. The breathing became much more labored and then about a mile and a half into it we hit the first hill. The running turned into a walk up the last little bit of the hill. Yikes!!!

All I could get out of my mouth was, "Dude!"

So, I know this will be good for me and I know my body needs the work and I know that this will be a challenge, but why do I hate it so much??? It's like practicing scales in every modality and working on the arpeggios...not glamorous, but it sure pays off when you actually have to play them in a piece!!

It's like anything else in life: whenever there are things that need work in my life, it takes focus, discipline, a willingness to say "I need to improve" and then just plain starting the process.

So, here we go. Another three miles tomorrow and the next day and the next. By week's end I should be back down to 125 pounds!!!!

MTC!
mac

SHARED BIRTHDAYS

I share the same birthday as my nephew. The only difference in the date is the year...like 42 of them! Yikes!! He just turned 3...OK! Put the calculator away!

What a trip it is to consider that we share the exact same birthday! We celebrated his and as I was watching him open his presents, I couldn't help but wonder about what his world will look like in 42 years. What will he pursue educationally, vocationally, etc. Right now he is into cars, maybe he will stick with that motif. The funny thing about it is that the Matchbox cars still look as hip and fun as they did when I was playing with them...and the dinasours!

All I know is that he got way more cool stuff than I ever did at age 3 and I'm lodging a formal complaint with my parents as of right now!

MTC!
mac

FEAR

Some would argue that it is an emotional response to a percieved threat. Some would say it is a sign of weakness. Others would say you should never trust it.

My heart goes out to the family members of the crew that was lost up in the Bering Sea this past week. The skipper had some reservations (fear) about piloting the Ranger. Have you seen this in the news?

Fear can save us.

Our brains have the ability to recall and use fear to keep us from getting hurt or being hurt again. A hot stove. A rattlesnake. People. You get the point. The amygdala, hypothalamus, ventral medial prefrontal cortex, all of these play a part in recall and reinforcement.

Fear can hinder us.

When we don't step out and take advantage of an opportunity. When we shrink back. When we hide behind. These times in life may call for us to have faith instead of fear. Courage is not the size of your heart, but actually a part of our brain that over-rides our fear.

God is big on faith. God uses fear to keep us from harm. God likes it when we put our faith in Him.

So, what do you do when you are fearful? Determine the source. Define it's reality or non-reality. Ask God for direction. Then make a decision based on that and move forward.

Things might look bleak or you may have lost it all, but don't let fear keep you from moving forward.

MTC!
Mark

WHERE ARE WE??

Is this Denver? How about Bismark? Moosejaw?

We are just a few days away from April 1 and we have 5 inches of snow at our house! I would feel better if it was April 1 and chalk it up as a real cruel joke!! This is crazy!!

Karen received a text from one of our friends in Cali on Easter Sunday that said it was pushing 80 at their place!! Not nice! Bizarre! This is Seattle not Minot!!

On the other hand, it is absolutely beautiful. It has this quieting affect and I love how it blankets everything and puts a certain perfect look to everything.

Even still, I would love for it to be a balmy 60! Is that being greedy? Is that asking too much? OK, let's do 75!!!!

Have a great day and don't get in an accident!

MTC!
mac

KUDOS TO CHILDREN'S ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL!

I went and visited my little buddy yesterday at Children's. He had a little surgical procedure done. He is an amazing little guy!! He was in surgery for an hour and a half and when the nurses wheeled him into the room where his parents and I were waiting, this little seven year old gave a thumbs up!!!!! What a stud!! When I grow up, I want to be just like him!!! He really is an amazing little boy!

Here's the kudos part: the nurses and workers were so wonderful! They were cheery and positive, highly interactive, talkable, and had wonderful senses of humor! Talk about making what could be a difficult place (if you want an attitude adjustment in your life, go to Children's and take a walk down a hallway and see what these little kids and families are having to deal with in their personal lives and you will get over yourself in a HURRY!) and turning it into a positive place...I was impressed!

So to my dear friends Steve and Denise and C, you guys hang in there! You are the best.

And to everyone and Children's, thank you for doing such an awesome job!!! Oh, and to our friend Nurse B., next time please lower the telescoping I.V. holder...this is why it is telescoping...so you don't have to stand on the bed!!!! You were hilarious!

MTC!
Mark

You Are All Heroes!!!!

What a great day yesterday was!!! I just want to thank every person who worked so hard to make Easter Sunday a huge success!! Every children's area worker, every musician, every Guest Services volunteer, every person parking cars in the rain!! To everybody who brought Easter eggs and more eggs!!! You are all heroes!!

I had a great time watching the 3 and 4 year olds go down their hallway for their Easter egg hunt!! There were so many eggs...it was like egg heaven. One little girl, only picked up pink eggs!!! I loved it!!

What a powerful vibe to see kids having so much fun and parents laughing and everybody having a great time! Perfect!!

Design is filled with phenomenal people that continue to go over the top!! Everyone of you is a hero in my book!!!! Way to go!

MTC!
Mark

FLOATING DOCKS, EASTER SETS, AND MUD GOLFING

Yesterday we talked about 'encouragment' and how it really doesn't cost us anything, yet how motivating it can be to receive and even to give!

Then my phone rang.

I didn't recognize the number, but after answering it, I recognized the voice! I hadn't talked to this friend of mine for probably 10 years or more and his second sentence to me was...

"I've been reading your blog and you need an editor!"

Thanks for the encouragement!!

We had a good laugh! We are hooking up today to grab a burger and get caught up on tons of stuff!

The title above relates to goofball things that we did before we were married and well, should have got in trouble for it, but by the grace of God we didn't!

Like tearing down the whole Easter production set and putting it up in the backyard of one of the pastors who was on vacation!

Playing golf at Jackson in Seattle in the rain and mud and almost getting one of our friends in some major trouble with the group in front of us...like egging him on to swing away! Needless to say if the ball had hit the dude, it would have left a nasty mark!!

The time he untied the dock we were fishing on and the wind pushed us out into the middle of the lake. The resort owner pulled up hours later in his boat apologizing for the instability of the dock and that the storm must have loosened it. Yea, right!!!!!

That's enough for now!

MTC!