Run, Forest, Run!

If you know Jesus as Lord and Savior, then you are in the race of your
life! You are running with Jesus in a world that is not your home.

Run, Forest, Run!

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

(Hebrews 12:1)

Forest Gump is a classic movie loved by many still to this day. Tom Hanks plays the part of Forest and does an incredible job. Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen a bad Tom Hanks movie. Forest Gump had some limitations and learning disabilities, but he more than made up for those with his love for life and people... and his love for running! Forest loved to run, and I still smile whenever someone quotes the movies and exclaims, "Run, Forest, Run!"

I ran my second Dopey Race at Disney World January 6-9, 2022. My good friend Rob Daniel ran his 5th Dopey Race. Rob is 66 years young and is one of the most passionate men I know. He loves the Lord and his family, and he loves to run! Here are the medals that Disney gave to all the Dopey Race participants:

I admit you must be a little, well, dopey to run four days in a row for a total of 48.6 miles. People joke with me, and I don't mind. But why do I run? I know this sounds strange to those who may not like to run, but I enjoy it. I can hear some thinking out loud even now: "The only way I am running is if someone is chasing me!" I get it. Running is not for everyone, but for the 50,000 who ran some of the races at RunDisney, we all enjoyed it.

What about running spiritually? If you know Jesus as Lord and Savior, then you are in the race of your life! You are running with Jesus in a world that is not your home, and you are preparing for your forever home in heaven. In our biblical text for today, the writer of Hebrews gives us some motivation and wonderful advice for running the Christian race. We should all be motivated by the testimonies of those who have gone before us. Saints who are now with the Lord in heaven ran their races well, and we remember them with joy and enthusiasm. For our own races, we need to remove every weight and sinful snare and run to finish the race. Note the word "endurance". I think that is the key word. We must run with endurance, never giving up.

We will all experience pain, difficulties, and setbacks, but we must keep looking to Jesus and suffer through the hard times, because wonderful rewards and blessings await us. I am talking about rewards that make the Disney medals pale in comparison!

Keep running the race, and do what Hebrews 12:2 tells us all to do: "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

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Podcast of the Week

Helping the Destitute and Transforming a
Nation with Christ's Love, with Fred Eppright

Pastor Danny welcomes to the show Fred Eppright of the Baptist Haiti Mission and the IMPACTcares Foundation. Fred shares the story of the Baptist Haiti Mission and how he and his son, Matt, got involved. Fred, Matt, and their partners at the BHM are doing truly powerful, invaluable work. We think you will be blessed to hear about what they are doing and perhaps be interested in partnering with them in their ministry.

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