2010 ING Miami Marathon Interiview

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1338468227504

Why?

How do you answer the question, "Why?" How do you answer the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" How do you answer the question, "Why would God allow this to happen?" The answer is simply that we can't answer these questions...only God can.

I believe that it's perfectly fine to ask God, "Why?" I don't think that He minds at all. However, I do not believe that it is ever appropriate to question the sovereignty of God. He is in control and we may not know the reasons that He allows things to happen until we get to Heaven. But, I know for sure that HE knows what HE is doing and that there is a reason for everything.

He cares about us and how we feel about things. He knows the number of hairs on our head, the make-up of our DNA, the exact genetic code without using a computer! He knows our thoughts, our concerns, our desires, what will happen next! He knows everything!

God works in ways that we cannot understand because we are human and He is GOD. We can't think at that level. It's not possible. We can't see the total landscape of humanity -- the big picture of life -- the real world under our feet. But, He can! We don't know what's going on all over the world every second of the day, at each sunrise, and at every sunset. But, He does!

It's OK to ask, "Why?" However, the reality is that we most likely are not capable of understanding the answers. We simply can't and we must accept it -- that's the hard part!

Pray without ceasing, study the word, trust God's timing, and accept His will!

Under HIS Grace...

Chris

MIAMI - 2010

This coming weekend we will be at the ING Miami Marathon. We'll have a booth at the expo on Friday and Saturday. In addition, I will be speaking at 2:00 on Friday and 5:00 on Saturday at the Expo Seminar. Other speakers include GP Pearlburg, Lisa Dorfman, and Ryan Hall.

One of my best friends, Tish Stropes, will be helping us at the expo. Tish has been with us from the very start of TEAM 413 back in 2003. She has never wavered in her support of the ministry and is always a delight to work with. She has been a wonderful friend and even after not seeing her for a long while, we can always pick right back up where we left off. I look forward to seeing my dear friend.

Lesley Toops will also be helping this weekend. She is one of our ambassadors from the Dallas, Texas area. The good ole boy way to describe Lesley is that she is a HOOT. I laugh out loud at her Facebook status postings sometimes. Still, she has the heart of a servant and moved her flights around to be with us in Miami. It will be her first opportunity to work with us at an expo.

It is our plan to allow many of our ambassadors to work expos with us in 2010. It truly is a life changing experience to see things from the inside of the booth. I will never be able to see things from the "front" of the booth like all of our ambassadors have been able to do. I've always been on the inside. But, I can offer them the opportunity to experience the ministry from the inside out.

This opportunity allows one to hear stories of God's grace from a completely different perspective. It allows one to share their experiences with someone who doesn't know about TEAM 413. It allows the ambassador to share their faith in ways that they cannot comprehend. I look forward to sharing this behind the scenes opportunity with many of our ambassadors in 2010.

If you are interested in being a part of TEAM 413, please contact me at:

chris@team413.org

We'll see how we can plug you in to make a difference in another person's life.

Under HIS Grace...

Chris

It's a Long Way from THERE to HERE!

On my Facebook status today, I posted the following:

"Live today! So many of us wish our lives away by declaring that we want another day to come soon. Live today! God has blessed you with this day to do with it as YOU will. Once you spend that time, you can't get it back. Don't spend today on wishing for the future. Live the moment and cherish the time that God has given you!"

My quote of the day on my status update sort of sums up my inspiration for this edition of GRACERUNNER JOURNAL.

The picture at the top of this entry is of the booth at one of our first expos as a ministry. We were at the 2003 Azalea Trail Run in Mobile, Alabama. It was a successful show for us but, as you can see, we had very little information and just a few cotton t-shirts. It was the beginning and we had no idea where we would be seven years later. Honestly, we had NO idea what we were doing!

As we move forward to 2010, we have come so far. Yet, we still have so much further to travel as we strive to reach the level where God wants us to be. We believe that our ministry will continue to be a very visible and viable entity in the worldwide running community. And, we believe that God will continue to give people a way to share their faith in words and actions as they run with, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" on their back!

The second picture above is our booth at the 2009 Country Music Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. Our Chief Administrative Officer, Mark Eldridge, and core team member, Donnie Maner, are there to share the ministry with thousands of people who walk by the display.

Looking at these two pictures gives you a "snapshot" of how far we have come as a ministry. It's an amazing miracle of God's grace! What a gift!

I'd like to thank all of you for helping us grow and encourage you to continue to support this very important ministry. Team 413 - GRACERUNNER MINISTRIES is recognized by people from all over the world. More than 25,000 people run under the name of TEAM 413. Looking back at the picture from 2003, it might have been 100 people! God has moved us forward in HIS timing. We look forward to the things God will do in our ministry today and in the future.

Grow with us!

Under HIS Grace...

Chris

Hear My Heart!

I really struggled about writing the words that follow. The timing didn’t seem to be right with what is going on all over the world. The environment just didn’t seem to be appropriate to put these words in print. But, after much prayer, a somewhat sleepless night, and God’s guidance, I decided to write this edition of GRACERUNNER JOURNAL. Please “hear” my heart through the words that God has given me. Over the past few years we have done our best to raise funds for TEAM 413 - GRACERUNNER Ministries. We have done everything that we know to do. We have asked for help. We have met with countless people and organizations seeking ways to grow a ministry that is an amazing gift straight from the heart of God. It truly is a gift of His matchless grace. Fundraising has been a hit and miss type of thing. There have been so many people who have given in order to keep us going. Yet, we have been told, "No!" by many significant companies, organizations and individuals. Usually, we are told that because our organization is "faith based," they just can't help us. We have been told that help is on the way and never hear from people again. It has really been awe inspiring at times and extraordinarily disappointing at other times. It’s a burden that I carry with me each hour of every single day. More than 25,000 people wear the TEAM 413 gear all over the world. We appreciate their efforts in spreading the gospel in all they do and say. However, we cannot survive by just selling shirts and other TEAM 413 attire. Although these are fundraising tools, the shirts are primarily our ministry tool. The shirts grow the ministry, but more importantly, they open the door for people to share their faith with another. That’s the beauty of the TEAM 413 ministry – It’s simple and non-threatening. To put things in perspective, if 1,000 people gave $25.00 per month to TEAM 413, we would be self-sufficient. We would not need a fundraising campaign, unless we were raising money for a very specific purpose. So, our plea is quite simple -- Invest in your ministry. If TEAM 413 has touched your heart, helped you through a difficult time, or you believe in what we are doing to advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ -- please consider an ongoing gift of at least $25.00 per month. It's not a stretch to believe that we can get this done quickly. Our Active Giving fundraising site link is: www.active.com/donate/team413

Please prayerfully consider helping us continue at the pace God has set for us! Under HIS Grace... Chris

HE DELIVERED ME!

Today on my Facebook status I posted the following:

Fill in the blank - "My faith in Christ is strong because _________!"

There were numerous responses. I came upon a song that best describes my response...

Here are the lyrics to Selah's "You Deliver Me" --

Deep as the ocean, bright as rain - This powerful emotion lifts me up above the planes. It's taken me to places I never thought I'd go. Showing me a grace I never thought I'd know.

When I feel like I can't go on, You deliver me. When the road is winding and way too long, You deliver me. You deliver me. I feel like a sinner, my sins have been washed clean. I'm absolutely given this heart has never seen. I must be forgiven sometimes asking why, I was chosen to be given you in this life. When i feel like I can't go on, You deliver me. When the road is winding and way too long, You deliver me. You deliver me. When there's a distance Between what I am and who I want to be, You deliver me. When i feel like I can't go on, You deliver me. When the road is winding and way too long, You deliver me. You deliver me. When I feel like I can't go on, You deliver me. When the road is winding and way too long, You deliver me. You deliver me.

My faith is strong because --- HE DELIVERED ME!

Under HIS Grace...

Chris

Trust God and Love People

"When others put you down because of your faith, it's difficult to take. Sometimes we just don't know how to handle those circumstances. All I know to do is trust God and love people regardless of how they treat you. That's what Jesus did -- the ultimate example to follow!" Yesterday, my faith was challenged by a fellow believer. He didn't question my salvation or my trust in God. He questioned the way that I handled a situation. It wouldn't have bothered me so much had it not been such a trivial issue. Still, it hurt me because this man should know my heart by now. When I confronted him about him "questioning" my actions, he backed down and said that he really didn't mean it in a bad way. Yet, the damage was already done. He should have thought before he reacted. We go through life and many obstacles are thrown in our path. The devil will even use fellow Christians to throw negativity our way. He will never stop his efforts to "kill" our witness. Spiritual warfare is real and we have to be alert and ready to fight off the enemy. Through the years, I've written the phrase "never allow your circumstances to dictate your character" so many times. It's a common thread of my writing especially in my book, GRACERUNNER - FAITH ON THE RUN. We simply cannot allow an earthly circumstances to change our character. We have to be alert to these things and allow our faith to show through in the midst of the crisis of the moment. We have to STAND firm in our convictions and allow Christ to work through us. I'm certain that my friend never intended to hurt me, but it put me on guard for the warfare ahead. When you are doing God's work and are aligned with His will, the devil will use everyone and everything to tear you down. Deny him and lift Christ up! STAND against the adversary and God will give you the desires of your heart. Under HIS Grace... Chris