"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

2011 - Wow!


Wow!  It's hard to believe that 2010 is almost over!  It's been a great year for TEAM 413 and we are looking forward to a bunch of outstanding events in 2011.

To finish 2010 strong, I am throwing out a TEAM 413 CHALLENGE. We need a lot of folks to make TEAM 413 run efficiently and effectively. We need people to give end-of-the-year financial contributions to our ministry. The goal is to raise $2,500 before January 1. 

This goal should be an easy task considering it will take very little from each of you to get it done!  We ask you to STEP UP and give to help us move forward under God's grace!

If you would like to make a contribution, please go to the following link:


God bless all of you and Happy New Year!

Under HIS Grace...

Chris

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas from Chris and Kiki!


Kiki and I would like to wish all of you a Merry Christmas! Our hearts are full and we feels so blessed to have friends from all over the world. We never imagined the impact that TEAM 413 and the many people who are a part of this wonderful ministry would have on our lives. Thank you for being an important part of us and for making our lives a better place! 

During this Christmas season and always, may God bless your family, hold you close, embrace you with His love and care, and allow you to feel the mercy and grace that only He can give through His Son, Jesus Christ!  

Under HIS Grace...

Chris

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Jesus Ran!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

from

TEAM 413
________________________________________________
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The following is an excerpt from my book,
GRACERUNNER - FAITH ON THE RUN.
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JESUS RAN

I believe that Jesus RAN.  God the Father told Jesus that we needed him.  Jesus responded that He was willing to run the race and so He ran!  He ran out the gates of Heaven to the start line on this earth.  He ran the race of human life as He lived with us for more than 30 years.  He ran with all types of people.  He ran with the rich and the poor.  He ran with people of different cultures.  He ran with the sick, injured, and downtrodden.  He ran alongside mankind and experienced the tough challenges of the miles and miles of life.  He felt the pain that we feel.  He saw the things that we see.  He was a part of the human race.

Then the Father said that we needed Christ even more.  So, Jesus ran up Mount Calvary with a cross on His back.  He allowed us to nail Him to the cross and to make fun of Him.  He still loved us even though we turned our backs on Him.  In the end, He looked into all of our eyes and said to us, “If I cannot love you, I cannot love another because YOU are the love of my life!” 

He ran for each of us and then He finished the race on this earth and declared, “IT IS FINISHED!”  He stayed in the grave for three days and then He ran out of the tomb.  He ran back to Heaven and told the Father of the race.  He told Him how He ran the same course that we run.  He became our advocate.  He told His Dad that He understands us now.  I believe that Jesus still runs to the Father each time we do the things that please Him.  I can hear Him ---

“LOOK FATHER! ANOTHER SEED HAS BEEN PLANTED!  ANOTHER LIFE HAS BEEN WON!  THEY DID A GOOD JOB!” 

Jesus runs for you!  He came running to us through mercy and grace.  He ran from the start to finish so that He could live on common ground with us. 

The results of our earthly marathon will not be posted until the day when Christ runs back for us.  Make it your goal to finish life strong so that your results will be posted and the FATHER and the SON will say, “Well done my good and faithful servant!  You ran the race and finished strong!  Welcome HOME!”

Jesus runs!  Do you?

Sunday, December 12, 2010

It's Christmas Time!

It's hard to believe that it is less than TWO WEEKS until Christmas! We look forward to spending time with family and friends during this season of the celebration of our Savior.  Our next event will be the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend from January 5 - 9, 2011.

We've been getting lots of orders for TEAM 413 shirts to give as Christmas gifts.  As a reminder, if you order by Monday, December 19, we can most likely get your gear to you prior to Christmas!

Here are a few items you might consider:

Women's Shirt as worn by
Jonie Boyd Davis
$37.00
GRACERUNNER
FAITH ON THE RUN
by
Chris A. Gillespie
$25.00
Men's Shirts as worn by
Brett Ciancanelli
$37.00
Sweatshirts as worn by
Chris & Kiki Gillespie
$40.00
TEAM 413 shirts as worn by TEAM 413 Ambassadors
Short Sleeve - $37.00 ----- Long Sleeve - $45.00
Please email Kiki at kiki@team413.org for additional information regarding styles and colors of shirts that we currently have in stock or to check on any of our other items.  

Lastly, you may make a contribution to TEAM 413 in the name of a loved one and we'll send them confirmation that you have done so. Many families have started giving the gift of charity at Christmas and we would be honored to be included in this new tradition.  In order to do this, you will need to click below and then send an email to kiki@team413.org with the name and mailing address of the person who you would like for us to send a notification.


May God bless you this Christmas!

Under HIS Grace...

Chris

Monday, December 6, 2010

Yearning to Learn - St. Jude Marathon Weekend

Celebrating after the St. Jude Half Marathon with Terry Greer and Ed Pierson

The St. Jude Marathon weekend was great in so many ways for TEAM 413.  This is such an outstanding event because it's all about the kids. The smiling faces of kids who are facing unimaginable health issues in their young lives really grab my heart!  

Mark Eldridge was our "go to" guy this past weekend --- setting up the booth --- taking care of the logistical matters for the event --- and being the official representative for TEAM 413 for two days.  THANK YOU, Mark!  Your contribution to TEAM 413 is immeasurable and I thank God for you each day!  Terry Greer, Faye Powell, and Sharon Pierson also helped at the expo and I am so blessed to serve alongside such wonderful ambassadors!

Although I was only at the expo for a few hours, I was able to visit with quite a few people on Friday afternoon and evening.  

Pat, my friend from Rhode Island, was once again a blessing.  She has been a steadfast supporter for several years and it was great to see her once again.  Pat always thanks me for my words on our website or in GRACERUNNER Journal.  She is a nurse and has read my ramblings for several years as she works the late, late night shift.  It has always meant a lot to me that she has found our words worthy of her time. Thanks, Pat for believing in us and supporting our ministry from far away.  You are awesome.

One remarkable story stood out for me during the expo.  Lisa came by to buy a shirt -- a black shirt with yellow writing.  I asked her about the color and she explained to me that those were the colors of the gym where she had worked out to lose over 100 pounds!  I could tell that she was so very proud of her hard work.  I gave her one of my books and personalized it for her -- tears welled up in her eyes. She had come so far and on this day, I wanted her to know that she could do anything. She is a living testimony of God's amazing grace!

During the race we ran through the St. Jude campus.  I came upon a group of kids yelling and cheering for the runners.  As I ran by, I stopped and thanked them -- I had about a dozen of our TEAM 413 wristbands strapped onto my Spybelt and gave one to each of them. But, I was short one wristband!  The little guy at the end of the line had been left out --- but, then one of the older kids spoke up and said, "Hey, you take mine!"  and then turned to me and said, "Thank you, sir!"  It was not just an act of kindness.  It was an act of self-less kindness!  It touched my heart.

We can learn so much from the people I write about above.  We can learn about facing the challenge ahead of us and attacking it with a great attitude from the kids of St. Jude.  We can learn service and dedication from Mark Eldridge and our TEAM 413 Ambassadors.  We can learn about being supportive of a ministry from Pat.  We can learn about commitment and will-power from Lisa.  And, lastly we can learn about being self-less from the young boy at the St. Jude campus.

These people made me question myself and now I question each of you.  How is your attitude when you approach life challenges?  When was the last time you served?  When was the last time you were supportive?  When was the last time that you had the will-power of Lisa?  When was the last time you gave up something that you wanted in order to give it to someone else?  When was the last time that you were self-less?  

Asking questions and yearning to learn ---

Under HIS Grace...

Chris