By Ben Snyder on 3/25/2008 4:02 PM

Monday - 5 miles - done

Tuesday - need to go run and the stinking wind and weather isn't cooperating

PS - this weekend is the big invite to all of CedarCreek to run a marathon, half marathon, or be a part of a marathon relay team to raise funds for Casa Hogar Vida...following each service.  I am so pumped!

By Ben Snyder on 3/18/2008 7:27 AM

This is the time of year refered to by Holy Week - the week leading up to the death and ressurection of Jesus Christ.  It is a time filled with activity (and sometimes chaos) for those in the church world - especially places like CedarCreek launching a new location. For families, it will be Easter baskets and new outfits and family gatherings.

So, with the holiday that symbolizes the climax of the Christian faith - what things are you doing this week to reflect, embrace, and celebrate the story of the cross and tomb?

By Ben Snyder on 3/15/2008 6:30 PM

One of my leaders sent me this article in reference to the "unplugged" week that the high school ministry and myself went through a week ago.  It describes how 68% of our society experience anciety when they are disconnected. Wow. I would have been in that group. Going unplugged certainly made me aware of some of my own dependencies and ways that I waste time. It was fun listening to what some of the students had to say. If I am honest...I am thankful to have my music back.  I really love the tunes, and spent some time thanking God for the gift of music.

This unplugged idea has caught on with some of our staff members who are taking holy week and unplugging.  Josh - Thanks for the kind words and I am excited for what this week has in store for you!  Because of his blog - this unplugged idea has gone global.  How cool!

For me, I am going to take the later half of this week and unplug again to set my mind on the story of the Passion.  I hope you join me in reflecting on the Savior, His Love, His Passion for His Father.

By Ben Snyder on 3/15/2008 6:16 PM

By Ben Snyder on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

Within the last six months my wife and I have readjusted our lives with a new mission to our simple south Toledo neighborhood. I was at a conference before then where some comments were made about living "missionally". It is a popular buzz word in churches these days - but, the truth of it has changed something in our lives.It is easy to say I care about lost people. It has been easy to pat myself on the back for inviting my neighbors every year to our big services (Christmas, Easter, etc) and think - I am doing my part to "reach the lost". The reality is - I don't know many of them. The truth is I am doing little -if anything- to engage them. Living missionally simply means that I see my neighborhood as a place where Jesus wants to reign, be worshiped, and heal human hearts just as much as he does in our auditorium on Sunday morning. In fact, the timing of this rescue seldom takes place on Sunday morning and doesn't fit into a neat little compartment in my life. It is every day, intentionality of loving those right next door.

Now, don't get me wrong. It wasn't like a light bulb switched on. This process is still just that - a process. But, the other day, my wife and I organized and threw a block part for our street. We believe it has been around 35 years since any such event has taken place on Bronx Dr. Recently she emailed her team about the event...I will let you read it for yourself.

My husband (Ben) and I have lived in our home in South Toledo for about 4 1/2 years. Day after day we drive past the same people, sometimes with a wave, but often without so much as a glance. We finally decided that something had to be done, so we threw a block party! We barricaded the street, pulled out a grill, passed out some fliers, and about 40 people actually came! We discovered that many of our neighbors are single-parent households, many are older individuals who can't get around well, and as far as we could tell, few have a relationship with Jesus. We spent 4 hours eating, playing corn hole, and just connecting with one another. By the time the barricades stopping traffic came down, it was obvious that many barricades that had been preventing relationships with one another had come down as well! Now we have the joy of being able to put names and life stories with faces; we can dream about our next steps in connecting (my daughter, Lydia, is working on some "paintings" that we'll be delivering to single older folks on the street, and I'm even pulling out the mixer to whip up some cookies!); and we can pray specifically for people who need Jesus.

It's easy to get wrapped up in your life, and not see the people around you who need to know about Jesus. It's easy to assume that "mission work" takes place in third world countries. It's easy to forget that we are supposed to start in our "Jerusalem," our neighborhood, our school, our workplace! Each day God lays multiple opportunities to impact people right in front of us . May we live in such a way that we take advantage of those opportunities!!!

So this is the beginning. We are praying for other missionally minded couples to join us in our humble south side street to be the Church for the people on Bronx Drive.

By Ben Snyder on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

I took our car to Caress Carwash over by my house because I don't have time to hand wash the thing - plus, the car wash does a nice cleaning job and it sprays fun colored soap on my car. So, decided to take Lydia through in our car thinking it would be like the circus. Singing, laughing, thrilled shreaks of joy...

Instead of the expected giggles, pointing, and excitment - it was wide-eyed terror that turned to frantic screaming.  Suddenly I felt trapped. What once as a colorful and fun spray and spin cycle turned into guns blasting the car and a big multi-armed monster enveloping our car. Lydia was having a melt down.  Even as we sat there in the endless car wash, I grabbed her hand and told her it was okay - Daddy was here.  It didn't help.

What felt like three hours later - the door opened and we finally escaped. 

It took fifteen minutes to calm her. Whew.

What is ironic is the other day I found her on climbing step number three in our basement (since we have put up a little barrier to keep this from happening again).  She had climbed up there all by herself...no help, no fear.  I pulled her down and was momenterally terrified of the potential devistation that could have happend had she fallen.  As soon as her feet hit the floor - she went right back to those steps and started climbing.  I tried to put my hands around her to hold her - and with the arogance of a one year old she pushed my hands away.  So, I snatched her up and carried her to safety where she proceeded to inform our entire neighborhood that she wasn't happy with that move.

After the car was episode I started thinking about what makes us afraid - and what should makes us afraid. 

In the car wash - there was nothing that could hurt her.  Yet, from her perspective - even with Daddy there trying to calm her - she was terrorized.  And on the stairs, one mis-step (which is common for her) and she would have fallen to serious injury.  In the car wash, I was amazed at the ridiculousness of Lydia's fear.  She was terrorized by the car wash which could do nothing to harm her, but unafraid of choices that could lead to real pain and injury. In both cases, when I got involved - it didn't help.  In the car wash, my reaching out to comfort her was not enough to end her fear...and when I stepped in to help keep her from harm - she pushed me away and eventually was upset by my care and protection.

It is so true how watching your kids teaches you so much about life.  So many times in my life I am terrorized by things that I need not worry about.  And so often in those times of fear and worry, God is desperately trying to get my attention to remind me who He is and how much He cares.  On the other hand, sometimes I make risky choices that with one misstep could cause injury. And when God steps in to help keep me from harm - I "push him away" or even get upset because I am not getting what I want.

So, what have you been "afraid of" lately? How might God our Father be trying to calm and care for you?
What choices have you been making that should make you a little "afraid"?
Or perhaps, have you been paying attention to how God might be trying to warn you about some of the choices you are making?

 

By Ben Snyder on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

This is THE week I have been training for...the 30th Chicago marathon.  It is hard for me to believe that in six short days I will be lining up with 45,000 other runners to run 26.2 miles.  My goal is the most challenging goal I have ever pursued:  to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  This means that I must complete the 26.2 mile run in 3:10:59 or less (which is the equivalent of seven minute miles the whole way). 

This week my nerves have been going crazy.  What if I don't make it?  What happens if I have ONE bad mile?  What if I get tired or sick? What if I miss it by one minute?  All those hours, all that work...

So - needless to say - this is kind of a big deal.  I am super excited.  I have never trained harder nor more intentionally. I really, truly love to run...so we shall see!  Either way - I am sure there is lots to be experienced and learned.

Ready....Set....

By Ben Snyder on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

Well, it is official - this is going to be the hottest marathon I have ever run.  When the heat rises, marathon times go longer.  Which means, this makes qualifying exponentially more difficult.

I am already starting to consider alternative marathons at the end of the month of October in case things turn out poorly for me.

Still, running downtown Chicago is tremendously fun.  And I get to spend some quality time with Lauren - which means double the fun.

Bib number (if you wanted to track progress sunday am) - 4686

By Ben Snyder on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

And...I failed to qualify.  It was THE HOTTEST marathon I have ever run. Tempuratures are usually in the sixties or lower on race morning and seldom get above a perfect 65-70 degree range.  Before the race even started I was sweating.  The first 12 miles I tracked pretty well with my qualifying time - then mile 13 hit.  It was over!  It got hot - upwards of 90+ degrees in some parts of the city. 

My amazing wife traveled to 6 different locations all over Chicago to cheer me on - which is like gold, next to water the the finish line.  Michael DuShane also drove out to Chicago on a whim to help me qualify.  Instead he spent the last ten miles making sure I didn't quit - because I really wanted to.

But, I finished.  Chaffed legs, bruised toe nails, dry mouth...but, a finisher's medal.  I realized afterwards that the heat caused them to shut down the marathon because of lack of water and medical personel (read more here).

My finish time:  3:28:11 - 18 minutes past the qualifying time for Boston.

Now time to think about plan B.  In the mean time - I recover and thank all of you for cheering me on - even if you were hours away!  You really have no idea how helpful and inspiring it all is.  Thanks.

By Ben Snyder on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

A few of you have asked various questions or tips for running.  I thought I would briefly point you towards some of the resources that have been really helpful for me.  Though I may seem like I know what I am doing because of the distances I have run - the reality is, I am kinda "wingin it". 

So - here is where I can point you:

1. RUNNING ADVICE - www.runnersworld.com - you can sign up for a weekly email where they will send you all kinds of tips about training, runs, shoes, food, equipment and more.  GREAT STUFF!

2. RUNNING SHOES - whether you are running for a 5k or a marathon - good shoes are really important.  Often times the people with injury trouble, suffer because they didn't get fitted with the proper shoes.  I recommend Dave's Running Shop - take in a old pair of training/running/tennis shoes and be prepared to spend around $100.  It will be worth it.

3. RUNNING ROUTES - www.mapmyrun.com is a gps website that allows you to map out your runs and save them so that you know exactly how far you are running.

4. RUNNING EQUIPMENT - thinks like wicking socks seem extreme - but they help prevent blisters, gloves, hats, shorts, etc.

5. RACES & RUN SUPPORT - www.toledoroadrunners.org is Toledo's premeir running site with resources, support, and races.

Hope that helps.  If there is anything you have found that is helpful - let me know!