2011 ING Miami Marathon

We are looking forward to being back in Miami for the 2011 ING Miami Marathon on January 28 - 30! TEAM 413 will have a booth at the expo at the South Beach Convention Center and I will be speaking at the ING Runner's Nation Lounge at 5:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. My topic is "The GRACERUNNER Journey." We hope to see many of you at the expo or at my presentations.

We also have a request to make. Through the years many folks have asked to volunteer with TEAM 413 at events all across the country. They have told me that they wanted to help in any possible way that they can. That being the case, we have an opportunity for volunteers at the ING Miami Marathon Expo on Friday and Saturday. We need some help at the expo. I've posted this on my Facebook sites for the past couple of days and have not heard from anyone. So, I'm writing my request in this edition of GRACERUNNER JOURNAL in hopes that someone will notice.

We need a couple of people to help at the TEAM 413 expo booth on Friday and Saturday for a few hours. The times that we most need help is from about 2:00 - 6:00 PM each day. Working an expo is a "blessing" type of event -- you have the chance to share with hundreds of people who stop by our booth. You have the unique opportunity to learn about TEAM 413's impact on people from the inside out! To be a part of this miracle of grace that God has given us through Christ is something that you'll cherish. Individuals who have helped us in the past, walk away from the experience with a new found respect for what God is doing through this simple ministry that we call TEAM 413.

So, if you are going to be at the 2011 ING Miami Marathon, we need your help. Please email me at chris@team413.org and let me know that I can count on you. The time demand is minimal but the blessing will last a lifetime!

Safe travels!

Under HIS Grace...

Chris

GRACERUNNER JOURNEY UPDATE

We need your help with GRACERUNNER JOURNEY. Over the coming weeks, I will be training hard to complete our 413 mile journey in May. We need your support in many ways -- we need your prayers -- we need your financial donations and pledges -- we need logistical support in the cities where we will be stopping along the way. Please email me at chris@team413.org in order to volunteer or if you would like to donate to our cause. We'll get you plugged in and send you an information packet.

We are considering making some minor changes to our journey.  As of today, this is the list of our stops along our trek to Fargo, North Dakota:

• Thursday, May 12 - Birmingham, AL- Kick-off
• Friday, May 13 - Pontotoc, MS (my hometown) & Memphis, TN 
• Saturday, May 14 - Springfield, MO
• Sunday, May 15 - St. Louis, MO
• Monday, May 16 - Champaign, IL and Chicago, IL
• Tuesday, May 17 - Des Moines, Iowa
• Wednesday, May 18 - Duluth, MN
• Thursday, May 19 - Fargo, ND
• Friday, May 20 - Fargo, ND
• Saturday, May - Fargo, ND (Finish at the Fargo Marathon)

This journey will not be possible without your participation and support. So, please help us along the way. Once again, email me if you live in one of the cities where we are stopping or if you desire to be a part of this GRACERUNNER JOURNEY!

Under HIS Grace...

Chris

Living Stones News Column

I am now writing a column, GRACERUNNER JOURNAL, for Living Stones News every other month.   They offer a "hard copy" newspaper as well as an online version of their publication.  From LSN's website:

Living Stones News is a free, monthly, non-denominational Christian publication whose purpose is to glorify God, to reach out to the unsaved, and to bring hope, encouragement, peace, and the unconditional love of Jesus Christ to our readers.  Connecting persons in the Christian Community with one another, we are currently, focusing on covering Northern Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin.

My column schedule for 2011 is January, March, May, July, September, and November.  Please check out this month's GRACERUNNER JOURNAL by clicking HERE. 

God bless all of you who follow us as we continue to run ---

Under HIS Grace...

Chris

Blanket of Grace

2011 Walt Disney World Marathon Expo - TEAM 413 in Lower Right Corner

The Walt Disney World Marathon Expo Days 1 and 2 have been fantastic for TEAM 413.  We've met so many wonderful people and renewed friendships from days gone by.  We've had the good fortune to have volunteers help us at this great event.  Terry and Jackie Greer, Bobby Cavette, and Art Erdman have been a wonderful help to Kiki and I as we have shared the message of TEAM 413 with thousands of people.

But, one person has gone far and above what is expected.  My buddy and TEAM 413 Ambassador, Paul Dillmuth, not only has been a volunteer in the booth, but for the second year in a row, he donated the funds necessary for us to rent booth space at this world class event. That's service! That's belief in our ministry! That's allowing God to work through you to plant seeds of hope for multitudes of people from all over the world!  Thanks, Paul, for making Disney a reality for TEAM 413!

Off to bed now, Mickey wakes the half-marathoners up early around here.  Wake-up call at 3:00 AM and then start the race at 5:30 AM! Day one of my place called "running" the Goofy Challenge begins in earnest in the AM!

Under HIS Blanket of Grace...

Chris

Running is a Place!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 -- 10:30 PM:  We are at 35,000 feet flying to Orlando, Florida for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.  It's our third year to represent TEAM 413 at this world class event.  Each year it becomes bigger and better and TEAM 413's message is shared with thousands of new people.  It has become the most significant annual fundraiser for TEAM 413.

But, the story started in Orlando some eight years ago when I ran the Disney Marathon for the first time.  It was at a time in my life when things weren't going well with my health and my life as I knew it was about to crumble around me.  I believe that god was preparing to be stronger than I ever thought that I could be.  It was a life changing event and the "push" that helped start this ministry that we call TEAM 413. The land of Mickey Mouse helped change my life forever through God's favor and grace.  I look back at that time in my life and see that God was at work to help mold and shape me into the 52-year-old kid that I am today.  

I cannot adequately describe what happened back in 2003 well enough to do the story justice.  I can say that without a doubt that it was a miracle of God's goodness and grace.  It was a time when God got my attention through the circumstances in my life and prepared me for what was ahead.  It was a time of much pain of the body, mind, and spirit.  But, out of my agony came growth and a ministry that has touched thousands of people worldwide!  I am so honored and humbled that God chose me to represent Him in this venue we call running.

You see, running is not an exercise to me.  It is a PLACE!  Running is as viable a place as my home, my office, or any of my daily surroundings.  It's a place where God works in my life and has brought about change that can only be described as miracles of grace! Running is a place called grace to me.  Running is my habitat for sanity. Running is my quiet corner of my heart's sanctuary where I am close to God.  Running is my place of refuge, of solace, of climate change for my soul.  It is a God filled place where HE does His wondrous work.

I love running -- I love that place!  More importantly, I love the fact that God dwells in me and comes along with me to this place where He does much work in my heart!

The Goofy Challenge at the Walt Disney event will be a wonderful place for me this weekend! Running the half marathon on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday will be a place of truth -- a place of worship -- a place of achievement -- a place for living -- a place for loving -- a place for laughter!  This place will be my time with God this weekend and I look forward to feeling His grace as He does a good work in me!

Join me this weekend as I describe this PLACE in my life -- 

RUNNING Under HIS Grace!

Chris