Being Prayed For

This past weekend we had our biggest youth event of the year. It was a pretty awesome weekend. The themes was "Consumed" based on Deuteronomy 4:24 which says, "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." The whole concept is that God loves us so deeply and desires our love back. When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, he replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40). 


We had four speakers throughout the weekend. Ronnie Harris, one of our youth pastors and former NFL player, spoke on loving God with all your heart. Amanda Holste, who attends one of our churches in Oregon, spoke on loving God with all your soul. John Stumbo, my former senior pastor, spoke on loving God with all your mind. John Chang, a church planter, spoke on loving your neighbor as yourself. They all did a fantastic job. 


Sunday morning, John Coats and I lead a prayer service. I did not expect it. It was pretty amazing. I had shared that one way you can pray for someone is to visualize God's best for them. God knows our thoughts and can see what we are thinking. It was something my friend Morris had shared with me years ago. Well, near the end of the service, Jeff Brown came over to me and said that his wife Kara had come over to him and said, "When Erik said that I pictured him and Jeanne-Ann with their 2 kids from Ethiopia." He said, "Me too." They felt like they should have everyone pray. I am not someone to get in God's way, so they did. 

Jeff got up in front of everyone and shared a piece of my story and asked people to come around me and pray. He also asked if Jeanne-Ann was in there. I never saw her. It turns out that when Jeff said her name she was walking past the doors to the meeting room and heard her name called. She came in and got about 20 feet from where I was. People got around us and prayed for us. It was amazing. I was overwhelmed. They prayed we would get our call for our referral soon. I had to give announcements after and was blubbering my way through them. That part was actually pretty funny.


I am so thankful for people who listen to God and for your prayers. Thank you!

Wrap up of Hood to Coast (How I got through it)

If you have never gone and done something that stretches you beyond what you think you could do, I highly recommend taking a stab at it. Running 3 legs in a race in a 16 hour period is something just like that. It pushes you beyond what you feel like you can do. Maybe there is something else that fits you a little more, but you should go do it.

I want to tell you a few things that got me through Hood to Coast.

1) I was on a team with some great people. We laughed, we shared stories, we got to know each other, we laughed, we cheered each other on, did I mention we laughed?, we sang, we pushed each other. It was a wonderful team to be on. Steve was greatly missed from the team and I wished he was there, but the team helped me through that too.

2) Others on the course. I have found a true joy in running, but when you are running at 3:30AM it is not quite as joy filled. I must say though that the moon was near full and the stars shone brightly as  ran (we were waaaayyyy out in the middle of no where at that point so there were no street lights on that leg). It was my longest leg (6.82 miles). As I passed people I would ask them how they were feeling and encourage them that they were doing great and they would encourage me back.

The last three miles was spent with Colleen from the Apple Fritter team. I had been closing in on her for a while and finally was ready to pass her. I asked her how she was feeling and all that and it encouraged her to keep up with me. She ran the whole three miles with me. Well, except the last 100 yards. She kicked it in and there was no way I was going to catch this 24 year old cross country coach who had been running since she was 14. We did have a great conversation for 22 minutes or so...a complete stranger. Who I hugged at the end and prayed for her knee that had been hurting.

3) Kills. I learned about this little running term last year on this race and I hated it. When you pass someone you call it a kill. When someone passes you, you get killed. Vans would have their tallies on the window. I didn't like it because I knew last year that I was running against people who love to run. At that point I had not fully developed a love for it. Well, that changed this year. I have always loved competition and it does motivate me. This year I had 30 kills and got killed 10 times. Sidenote: Trent, who filled in for an injury, got 72 kills on 1 leg!

4) Finally, but not the least of the list, is as I ran I spent a lot of time talking to Jesus. If you read regularly here you have seen that I pray for people when I run. It's a regular list of family and some friends. And then I asked if there were any people who needed prayer when I was running this race, as I had more miles than usual. I got a ton of requests! The only way I could keep track of it was to take the print out of the requests and to write them on my arms.(below is the second round of writing)

We also handed out these magnets that said "You've been prayed for" and stuck them on vehicles of teams that we prayed for. It's a lot of fun to talk to people along the way and find out their stories. It's pretty easy to have conversations with people because you have one thing in common with them...you are all running the "the mother of all relays." It's amazing what happens when you tell someone you will be praying for them as you run. One lady from the "Cougars" all women team unloaded on me with all the rough things that has happened to her in the last 3-4 weeks. (Ruth, I prayed for you!)

Having conversations with the Creator of the Universe and the one who gives the ability to run is amazing. To "stand in the gap" and pray for someone is such a gift. I was grateful for the opportunity to do so and it truly pushed me as I ran. So thanx everyone who gave me the opportunity to pray for you!

So even though we had a van that either was blazing hot or ice cold and you had to climb in the front to open the back door and all the numerous other issues that drove me nuts about driving it; even though I am in massive pain and will take a little time to heal my muscles so I can run again; even though I got very little sleep...I am glad I got to be a part of this experience once again. See you next year www.hoodtocoast.com!

A few pics from our journey...

 The Super Heroes (on my prayer list) ran in their costumes.

 I love Mad Gab.

 Sleep area and exchange with the other team.

 My last leg.

 The finish line.

 We did it.

My medal of "honor."

I am Praying when I run the Hood to Coast...Can I pray for you?

When I ran the Helvatia half marathon my buddy Steve suggested that I pick different people to pray for during each mile. I loved that idea. I was already praying as I was running, but this game me some tangible times to actually pray for different people. Of course my family members all get a mile (including my son and daughter in Ethiopia) and John Stumbo gets a mile as well. John was the inspiration for our Hood to Coast team we call Stumbo's Prayer Warriors, or as someone on another team last year said "St. Umbo's Prayer Warriors."

It has been truly inspirational and encouraging as I run (which until 2 years ago I hated, but have now found joy in it) to pray for people. It keeps my mind focused on loved ones and on running.

So here is the deal: On Friday and Saturday I am running 3 legs of the Hood to Coast "The Mother of All Relays" which, with 197 total miles, is the longest relay race in the nation. I will be running approximately 18 miles total. I would love to pray for you. I will give the usual people on my list a mile, but I want to commit a portion of the race to you in prayer. Depending on how many people reply I want to give you 1/2 mile or 1/4 mile to your prayer needs.

     * Do you have a major life change coming up?

     * Do you have a decision to make that could affect your future?

     * Do you have some issues you could use some wisdom from God on?

What do you need prayer for? Feel free to comment here (on the blog or facebook) or send me an email, or a message on facebook (if it is not for everyone else to know about). I will be carrying a list with me as I run so I don't forget who and what I am praying for.

So there you have it. Let me know. I would be honored to pray for you.

Grace?

Today I was driving along the interstate. It was a beautiful sunny summer day and I hit some construction. There was a pick up pulling a pop up camper and it was swerving a bit. I decided to pass it and and get in front of it, as it made me a bit nervous. As I did, I saw the police officer off to the side on ramp pointing his speed gun right at me. I looked down and sure enough, I was doing 75 in a 65. I know I was done for. A disclaimer if you will. I typically do not really speed. I keep it pretty close to where I am supposed  to be, which irritates some people who follow me on a trip.

I watched as the police officer got in his car and pulled up behind me pretty quickly. He took a while to just drive behind me. I thought maybe he was going to run my plates and see if there were any warrants out for my arrest. Suddenly his lights came on and I realized he was just waiting fro a wider highway shoulder. He told me he clocked me at 77. Took my license and said he would be right back.

A few minutes later he walked back up to my window and said, "I see you have a pretty clean driving record so I am only going to give you a written warning. If I had ticketed you it would've been $00 because it is a work zone. Be careful as you pull out and have a safe day." I thanked him, took a huge sigh of relief and got back on my way.

I started to think about that moment for a while, as I was waiting for my heart rate to go down. He could have given me that ticket and it would have been completely fair. I deserved it, even if it was because I was nervous about the guy in front of me. I was breaking the law. I was speeding. It was in a construction area. I should have gotten a ticket. For some reason, I did not. That police officer chose to not give me a ticket. Typically when they are parked in a construction zone, they are giving out tickets, not giving grace. Today, he gave me grace. I have only had 2 tickets in my life. The last one was about 10 years ago.

I am very thankful for that grace. I looked up grace in Webster's dictionary and it said, "Pronunciation: \ˈgrās\ Function: noun

1 a : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification b : a virtue coming from God c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace
2 a : approval, favor s> b archaic : mercy, pardon c : a special favor : privilege d : disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency e : a temporary exemption : reprieve" Thefreedictionary.com defines it as, "A favor rendered by one who need not do so."

I was given this act of kindness, this favor done by someone who did not need to do it. Allow me to get a little "spiritual"for a moment. The Bible is pretty clear that because of sin none of us deserves forgiveness or heaven. In the book of Romans (found in the Bible) it says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," which basically means that we can't earn our way into heaven. We don't deserve it. Also in Romans it says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Essentially what it is saying is that the payment (wage) for our sin (the things that we do that are wrong or the things we don't do that we should) is death (forever apart from God), BUT the gift (undeserved, free and given) of God is eternal life (forever, after we leave this earth) in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You may have heard of the Bible verse that is placed up in the end zones of many NFL games "John 3:16." That verse says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,^[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." This is talking about how Jesus gave his life for us by dying on a cross (the method of "execution" in that day that was given to criminals) and gave us the opportunity to receive forgiveness for our sins. The Bible goes on to say in the next verse,  "¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." Jesus was not here to point out all the things we do wrong. He wants to save us from that life. If you have a Bible, open up to Romans chapter 6 and give it a read. It is pretty amazing. The whole book of Romans is awesome for that matter. 

After you read that, read Psalm 139. This talks about how much God loves us and knows us. If he knows us so well that he knows what our thoughts are you would think he would never be willing to forgive us. We can be pretty ugly with our thoughts. Yet he will forgive us and does! Now check this last thing in the Bible in the book of John, chapter 10. "⁹That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

It's pretty simple. If you have never prayed a prayer like this and you want to, you can do it right now. You do not need to "clean up" before you do so. God stands waiting to forgive you. He wants to. All you have to do is confess your sin to him. OK, one more verse. 1 John 1:9 says, "⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." That's it. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart, confess your sin. God will help you with all the other stuff later. There is nothing like forgiveness. There is nothing like grace.

When I was 8 years old, I prayed a prayer similar to this, "Jesus, I know you died on the cross to pay for my sins. I know I have done things wrong. I know that you are alive today and want to forgive my sins. Today I confess that sin and want to start a life long relationship with you. Thank you for the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life in heaven after I leave this earth."

You can pray that same prayer right now if you want. I would love to continue to dialogue with you about this if you want. Feel free to comment below or send me an email or FaceBook me.

Wow, I did not intend this post to be so long when I started it and had no idea where it was going to go, quite honestly. What I do know is that Jesus has changed my life and I want others to know it. I want others to find what I have found. My life isn't perfect. Everything doesn't always work out in my favor. My Red Sox don't always win the World Series just because I "pray" for them to every year. I don't always make the best choices. What I do know, is that I have a God that walks besides me through everything I go through. I have a God who will ALWAYS forgive me. Those truths make me continue to move forward in life.


I wonder, are you someone who gives grace? When was the last time you received grace from someone? I would love to hear about it. Share in the comment section.

Some Random Stories (end of Guitar Hero pay phones and a guy?)

* A guy wakes up after being declared dead and getting ready to have his organs donated.
"Something about Zack’s appearance made them think that he wasn’t as dead as the doctors said. On a hunch, Dan pulled out his bone-handled pocket knife and ran the blade up the sole of one of Zack’s feet.

‘Our son is still alive!’
The foot yanked away, but the other nurse said it was a reflex action. So Dan Coffin then dug a fingernail under one of Zack’s nails. Zack yanked his arm away and across his body, and that, the other nurse agreed, wasn’t a reflex action. It was a sign of life. "

Read the full story here.

* London is Getting Rid of their Pay phones!
This has been a staple in London and is hanging the look of the city.
Read the story here.
I tried using one when I was in Paris last, but you need a special phone card there and I didn't have that. So it was useless, even tough I needed it.

* the end of Guitar Hero?
Read about it here.