Seeing Jesus in Biking

I had the privilege of spending half the weekend with the good folks at Global Harvest Church in Dallas, TX and got to share our cancer story and lead a marriage seminar. It was pretty last minute as my good friend Thomas Kim was supposed to speak the entire weekend at this conference but he asked me to come and split the time and we were both blown away at what the Lord is doing at that church. God is good. I even got to meet and pray for a couple members in their church that were also battling cancer and hear their story. Please continue to lift up Andrew and Connor - (see blogroll on side for updates) - Andrew is getting a CT scan on his lungs today to see if there is any improvement and they are still fighting for their lives. Please pray that the nearness of the Lord would be more real to them and their families now more than ever before.
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An excerpt from Tim Hansel's book, Holy Sweat. I came across this a few years ago and accidentally stumbled upon it on my computer recently. It struck me then but it resonates profoundly with me now. A great word-picture summary of our last few months...

The Road of Life

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong so as to know whether I merit heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a President. I recognized his picture when I saw it but I really didn't know Him. But later on when I met Christ it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don't know just when it was when He suggested we change places but life has not been the same since. When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead He knew delightful long-cuts; up mountains, and through rocky places at break-neck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on. Even though it looked like madness He said, "Pedal."

I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure and when I'd say, "I'm scared!" He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed; gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey - my Lord's and mine. And we were off again He said, "Give the gifts away. They're extra baggage - too much weight." So I did to the people we met and I found that in giving I received and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him at first to take control of my life. I though He'd wreck it. But He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners. Knows how to jump to clear high rocks. Knows how to fly to shorten scary passages. And I'm learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places. I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze in my face and my delightful constant companion Jesus Christ. And when I'm sure I can't do anymore He just smiles and says, "Pedal".

In His Grace,

Peter & Kim