My Turn or "Oh No..Thank-You " !

I think I am suffering from mental block...this issue of "Runnin' Redneck" is going to be a short one ! It isn't that I don't have anything to say really, it's just that I am @ a loss of words because I have been somewhat humbled this week.

There were several instances this week in which some folks made a point to say that they appreciated things I had said or written etc. The fact that someone took time to say that to me this week caught me a bit "off guard".

For starters, I had a visit from a former co-worker ( who now lives in Missouri) that I had not seen in 16 years ! He had retired & wanted to see some people in Tennessee , so he just started driving & visiting etc. A friend of mine told me that he was coming to see me. He arrived & we visited for about 2 hours & he went on his way.
He thanked me for a note that I had written him when he left our company....made me think...my turn...Oh no , thank-you !

One of my close friends ( http://www.dinosenesi.blogspot.com/) just completed his first half - marathon. I have been just as excited about it as he was & we have been exchanging plans & how to deal w/ aches & pains & all of the "running stuff " , questions etc. in which he asked my opinion.
He did well in his "half "..hit his goal , & sent me an e-mail that thanked me for my help. Made me think...my turn ...Oh no , thank -you !

Lastly , another person that didn't give me enough points on the UT / Alabama game won the high stakes wager of a cup of coffee @ a great coffee shop in the area. After agreeing to the "points ", he complimented me on this blog ( imagine that ! ). Made me think...my turn...Oh no ..thank - you !

I admit that this hasn't been earth shattering , but allow me to say that these events struck me this week.
Would I take the time to drive a long distance to see someone ? Would I send someone a note to thank them for my input on my race ? Would I compliment someone on things that they had written that spoke to me ?

Thank - you for making me think this past week.....

Ephesians 4:29;.....Let everything you say be good & helpful , so that your words will be an encouragement to those that hear them.

INCOMPLETE

I have had a rather boring week...sometimes that is a welcomed thing..mostly though even boring gets boring after a day or so.

I was "incomplete" for most of this week. My wife was away on business & I was left to " hold down the fort". Makes one appreciate our wives. We have been "yoked" for almost 24 years & I am truly " incomplete" when she is away etc.

Now, I will be truthful & say that I certainly enjoy time to myself , but I wouldn't want to have it that way too often. We are about being active together & going places together & basically just trying hard (w/ God's grace ) not to become a statistic. I am very thankful for her indeed !

For those of you that are married...I pray that you will be persistent in growing old together . My prayer would be that we would always realize that things will not be perfect, but we will persevere until the end.

So...this week, I hope ,will not be as boring....we are "complete" & looking foward to another time of learning ( whatever that may include) how to be good finishers !

Proverbs 31:10 & 11-12
Who can find a virtuous & capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies.
Her husband can trust her, & she will greatly enrich his life. She will not hinder him but help him all her life.

What Did Ya' Lose This Week ?

How did you finish the week? What did you lose this week?

Certainly the topic of most conversation has been the current "economic crisis" in our country as well as the world.
So...what did you lose this week ?

Thousands of dollars.....going to have to work another lifetime? Did you find yourself "lighter" this week....maybe not just in the hip pocket, but what about your weight perhaps ? Hopefully you didn't lose your keys or your favorite coffee mug or something of that nature !

I lost a couple of running days due to an unexpected visit from Achilles Tendonitis ! Please don't weep openly...!

We spend an entire lifetime trying to hold on to things don't we ? We work & save so as to not lose a retirement...we put keys in the "same ol' spot" so they won't be lost. We tag our pets...some tag their clothes ..the list goes on & on.

Our gain or "will to succeed "drives us doesn't it.....Really think about that....."DOESN'T IT" ?

If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul ? Is anything worth more than your soul ?
MATT. 16:25-26

ACL Baby !! ( I Dont' Mean Anterior Cruciate Ligament Either !)

I am most happy to report that I ( we ) have returned safely from the Vortex , otherwise known as the Austin City Limits Music Festival.


Allow me to "set the tone", if you will.....Our son is a Senior in High School this year . He is a huge music fan & a very good guitar player ...particularly "Texas Blues" i.e. Stevie Ray Vaughn etc. , so w/ that being said , his wish for a graduation gift was to attend the ACL.

After much planning ( by my wife ,a former travel agent) & saving ($$) the time was upon us to travel to Austin,Tx. to this 3 day festival.

I am a fan of music & the city of Austin , however I was a little hesitant about this event.
We arrived Thursday & after a nice meal @ Magnolia Cafe ,we settled in to be ready for the concerts on Friday.We arrived @ the gates to Zilker Park & were "in" about 11:00 AM.

Oh my gosh !!! 45 acres of park space w/ 8 stages , food courts, art tents & porta-johns too numerous to mention! The music was ongoing & we took it all in @ a slow pace.
After listening to: ( I'll mention ONLY the ones I liked!), Eli Young Band, Freddie Jones Band & Jackob Dylan we left & headed out to eat.

Saturday brought more of the same ( Longhorns vs. Razorbacks also) & the music was great w/ John Fogerty , Black Keys & Allison Krauss & Robert Plant as well as others. I enjoyed alot of the music & alot I didn't care for @ all. Austin enjoyed the music & food & got to visit SRV's statue @ Town Lake Trail (awesome running place) & also visited a guitar shop where SRV shopped.

Well , to bring all of this to closure, I will say that I am thankful that I live where I do & that for the most part people are God-fearing folks here. I was surrounded down there w/ filthy language & the constant scent of "wild herb" burning ! It was a place to realize....just as Jakob Dylan sang..."Evil is Alive & Well" !

I am not w/o fault to be sure , but I was thankfully reminded of the price that Christ paid for all of us to have our sins forgiven & live w/ HIM eternally. I am thankful also of the time I had w/ my son to enjoy w/ him something that he really looked foward to doing.

So , no running wisdom this time (although Austin is A HUGE "running town" ) & I did visit a Run Tex store. To be sure , I was glad to be back in this "running town" , ready to rock & roll & most importantly .....clear out my lungs !!!

Romans 3:23: For all have sinned & fall short of God's glorious standard.