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It's Here! Animals I've Encountered While Running ... NUMBER ONE!

 

 

It's probably not what you would have guessed, but here it is. The number one animals I've encountered while running ...

Yep, it's a dead cow and buzzards. About 30 of them at one time. The buzzards, that is, only one dead cow.

Here's the scene: I was running about a mile from my home and boom, I was out in the country. (This was a few years ago. Now I have to run further out to get to the country.) I noticed in the left ditch there was a huge dead cow. Now I've come across this before and I will mercifully not elaborate. I just went on by minding my own business.

I ran about 5-6 minutes past this scene. As I ran on I did notice that the deceased bovine (aren't you impressed?) was lying in state under a rather large tree. Upon my turn around to head home, the tree could not be ignored. It was filled with these soon-to-be preying buzzards! The scene was very much like the picture on the left above. I counted about 30 of them as I passed underneath them.

Now buzzards such as in the middle pic, are a fairly common site in middle TN. When you have a long way to go and you are tired of running, they are a great incentive to keep moving.

Yet this tree had some low branches and I had to go right through them. They were huge! There was no other way to get home, other than the long way around - like 10.5 miles around. That wasn't going to happen that day.

Not knowing how buzzards respond to runners who come close to their "merchandise", I chose to be proactive, as I do with dogs. With dogs, I usually speak first, just to let them know I see them and that I am not afraid of them. Although this was an entirely different species, of course, I chose to take the same approach.

So I let out an "I'm not afraid of you" yell. Basically just a loud, but low-toned "hoop!" and several quick claps.

Then my heart almost stopped. All 30 buzzards immediately flew from the tree and began circling around me and the dead cow. It was exciting and terrifying, for a moment, and then it was over. I ran under the flying flock and made sure they stayed air-born until I passed their animal of interest.

And that was it. Not necessarily eventful, thank the Lord, but you gotta admit, that's an animal combination that you don't see every day. 

So there's my "Top Ten Animals Encountered Whille Running". If you have followed along and read all of them, go have a Starbuck's on me. (Or at least, you can think of me when you pay for your own coffee.) Here they are if you haven't kept up:

#10 - The Galloping Mule (actually saw it again just last week)

#9 - Bobcats (no recent sitings, thankfully)

#8 - Skunks

#7 - Snakes (nope)

#6 - A horse and his dog (what do you think?)

#5 - Deer

#4 - Bears in the Smokies

#3 - Doberman, Rottweiler, Dogs in General

#2 - The Honduran Bull (yes, it too was galloping)

#1 - The Dead Cow and the Thirty Buzzards

There will probably be more posts on running as I'm getting back into it, hopefully for the Country Music Half Marathon this April and beyond. But if you want to review details of my animals encounters (and who wouldn't?) just check out the archives section under the "Running" catagory.

Later.

Romance and Roses 2009 Pictures are Just a Click (or two) Away

I promised you some R&R pics. You can see them if you are on Facebook. (You know, by the way, that FB rules the world. At least that's what the latest issue of Fortune magazine tells us on its cover.)

Click on Facebook and look for my name for the Romance and Roses pics.

If you are not in a small group (and attend LifePoint) you are welcome to attend the marriage enrichment study Selma and I are leading on Sunday AM at 9PM, in the Hub. It will be going on for another 4-5 weeks.

Let's Look Back on the 10th Romance and Roses for a Moment ...

What an incredible evening of ... well ... just what we had intended for the evening to be -- laughter, fun, romance, delicious food, Charlie and Gina (read: more laughter!), a fine band doing Earth Wind and Fire, and yes, dancing, excellent entertainment (more laughter), some couple time - all under the umbrella of LifePoint, marriage and our Lord.

Here are some random remembrances:

As usual, Charlie and Gina Mitchell were their typically wonderful selves. Don't you just love the way they give out the prizes???

Scott and Carrie Newberg - Your story was just what our couples needed to hear. Isn't it awesome to see how the Lord can take something bad that happens in a marriage and turn it out for His glory. Praise to the Lord and thanks to the Newbergs for getting out of the old comfort zone and sharing what I know so many needed to hear. You were an encouragement to us all.

David Cox and the band were absolutely kicking! What a great way to kick off the 10th annual R&R with their sound. Thanks, David, for your work. You always work so hard on these marriage projects. I am so grateful.

Stephen Bargatze was everything I said he'd be, espcially "quirky". This illusionist/comedian was the best. Simply the best. The magic was ... magical, yet his humor was just as top-notch. His story of where he'd come from was touching. He could not have tied it in any better as he related it to his being faithful to his wife. Thanks, Stephen, for your love for Christ, for your wife and for marriage enrichment.  

All night Stephen picked on Pat Hood our senior pastor. What a good sport (and that's from a guy who loves to dish it out!). Pat's support of our marriage ministry is amazing.

And here are some folks who were behind the scenes who had to - and did - come through:

Ken and Linda Coggins - We are always grateful for the Coggins' support of our marriage ministry. And Linda, the door prizes you get for us are always just what is needed for Charlie and Gina to play off of. Thanks for your work and generosity to our ministry. Good luck in the marathon, Ken.

Susan Garland, my assistant, worked so hard with 1000+ details. Thanks for squeezing in "just one more couple"  - about 10 times over!

Larissa Reed - Spent over 30 hours developing, cutting out and painting (and re-painting - five times) the backdrop for our whole evening. THIRTY+ HOURS - WOW ! What a mind to create, and what a spirit to work so hard in getting it done. Thanks, Larissa. Awesome job.

Al Bell - Who built the backdrop's brace and infrastructure to hold it up. And it worked! (I was never in question with Al working on it!)

Brenda White - Table decorations. It was a joy to have Brenda back on the team. And to see Stephen get her up on stage for the Titanic scene was a hoot! Great tables, and you were a great sport with Stephen.

Gary and Melody Henderson - What hard-working spirits. Thanks to you two for caring about our marriage ministry at LifePoint and for the hard work selling tickets, greeting, setting up table decorations and so many more things. You are great on our team!

Phil and Natalie Wilson and Eddie and Megan Gonzalez - Thanks for all the ways you lend your input to our R&R this year. Our team is better with you on it.

A State of the Art audio/video/photgraphy crew that worked tirelessly (okay, maybe you did get tired, but you really didn't show it) in gettin' er done. Thanks so much guys. You are really the best.

I've said this before - on this blog when speaking of other marriage events - thanks to the Lord for letting us see another example of the Body of Christ working together, using our different gifts to lift Him up. He is Life and we've it demonstrated once again. Thanks, Lord for the Life you breathe into this work. You are the most amazing of all.

Finally, the R&R pics are coming they really are this time. I know what you're thinking, "Right, Rodney, and the check is in the mail." Check back on this site and you'll see.

A Couple of More Points from 'John'

Here are a couple of more thoughts I've seen in my walking through John lately that I wanted you to see:

From chapter 4 and the very familiar story of the woman at the well, I found a phrase I don't think I've thought before pondered. In verse 14 Jesus says that whoever drinks of the water that He offers will never thirst again.

Just what exactly does that mean? Have you ever thought about it? I mean I call myself a follower of Christ. I have drunk of His water so to speak. And then the rain falls on me just like a non-believer. Bad things happen to me. Life can be difficult for me at times. (See my postings from last year with the ordeal with my Dad, for example.) So just what does "never thirst again" mean?

Here is my "non-theologian's theological view": never thirsting tells me that my relationship with Him is secure, through whatever I experience in this life. The security of knowing that He will never leave me nor forsake (Hebrews 13:5) me keeps me from "thirsting" and questioning if He stills loves me or if He has walked out on me in my time of difficulty.

At a difficult point, some might question, "Because of what is happening to me, am I still one of His?" Drinking from His living water (believing in and following Him) makes you one of his sheep. And John 10 (which we'll probably cover later) assures us that no one can pluck His sheep out of His hand. I don't have to worry, question or "thirst" for that confidence.

In the midst of all that I, my family, and especially my Dad went through before His homegoing last May there was never a doubt that God was there. Did I understand it all at the time? Of course not, and I still don't. Yet I didn't thirst for His presence. It was always there.

It's a simple thought, I know. If you believe in Him, rest in Him. And whatever happens today and the days ahead, know that you have received His living water and you will never need to thirst for it again.

Oh What a Night Indeed!

Pat Hood, our senior pastor at LifePoint has posted a blog with the details of last night's incredible evening of outreach for our students, and it was worth noting that God blessed in an amazing way.

He is doing that a lot in our church. Let me brag on Him in another way. Just this week, I had the privilege of seeing a couple - BOTH of them - pray to receive Christ in my office. I tell you, you witness that and it's something you won't soon forget!

For a blessing, please check out Pat's brief comments on the student ministry.

And thanks, Chris, David M. and Mel (see each of their links in "My Links" just to the left of this post) and all of the volunteers, for your work in making last night happen. God could have made last night happen in any way He chose, but He chose to use your willing spirits and hard work to bring it about. I am proud of you!

How exciting to be part of a church with such a bright future! Don't know what I'm talking about? Come join us - we're at

LifePoint Church

Marriage Enrichment Reminders

Hey Gang. In the coming days and weeks, Lifepoint Church is "throwing" some serious opportunities toward your marriage. Here is some of what lies ahead:

Romance and Roses February 13 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro.Tickets are still available through next Sunday - maybe Monday. Costs: $40.00 per couple. Not too bad considering its dinner and a full program, too!

The Love Dare series - Begins this Sunday with a message from senior pastor Pat Hood speaking from the Song of Solomon.

The movie, Fireproof will be shown at LifePoint Church this Sunday afternoon at 4:00PM to help kick off the series.

Small groups will be doing the Love Dare Bible study material for the next 6 weeks.

Love Dare on campus. For those who do not have a small group, Selma and I will be leading the same Love Dare material on Sunday mornings in The Hub (the room formerly known as the Multi-Purpose Center). Our study will begin at 9:00AM.

Marriage Cruise - Susan (my assistant) has got all the info you need on it (459.3311). Deposits are due the end of this month. The cruise is set for July and will cover the western Caribbean.

Whew! Lots going on for sure. All to help you make your marriage a little stronger for our Lord. Take advantage of some or all of these events. They are all for you, and ultimately all for Him.

A good week to you.

Sports Past, Sports Coming, and Past Sports Coming

So it's Monday night and I'm licking my wounds from another Super Bowl loss. Great game, no question but another heart break for me. It's been a while since I've pulled for the right (winning) Super Bowl team.

And I am also licking my wounds from the Lady Vols' loss tonight at #2 Oklahoma. (It sure seems I've gotta lot of wounds lately.)They were supposed to win for Pat Summitt's 1000th career win. We'll just have to get it from Georgia Thursday.

Finally, I am about to watch the end of the Australian Open tennis championships. They were played Sunday morning our time about 2AM, so I recorded them. Watched about 2 1/2 sets yesterday afternoon. At lunch Monday I watched enough to see it go into the 5th set. Another classic Federer/Nadal battle. Amazingly no one has told me how this match has ended. Natalie was kind enough not to tell me during our Monday night phone date even though she knew the outcome. (Thanks, Fred!)

If you are not familiar with this match up, it truly is one of the great rivalries in sport -today or any day. Call me a passivist, but what I like is that each one respects the other. They speak highly of each other and neither is full of himself. Yes, it is possible to have a fierce rivalry without all the hype and trash talk.

I challenge you to get involved in this rivalry of Roger Federer of Switzerland and Raphael Nadal of Spain. You won't be dissappointed. Incredible tennis done in breath-takingly good taste. Just so you'll know who I'm for: GO FED MAN! ! ! !