MILE 7.5, iPod playing a mixture of African music (in honor of Krista), sweat dripping from the brim of my hat, legs starting to feel a little heavy, when all of a sudden I hear my name being called. Maybe I am getting delirious in the middle of this half marathon. I shake it off, but then I hear it again, “PASTOR RANDY!!” I turn to see a good Christian brother from my Crescent City days (now living in Huntington Beach). He’s come out at 7:30 in the morning, fought through traffic and maneuvered through closed streets for the simple reason of yelling an encouraging word to me as I lumbered past.
He was not alone. His wife had joined him, but I missed her completely, so I stopped dead in the middle of the street and ran “against traffic to give her a hug of thanks. A cheer…a hug…a word of greeting and thanks…and I was on my way. Total time: 30 seconds tops. I was on my way, and they were on theirs. Was their trip worth it? For me it was. For in many ways they gave me the boost to keep on going. In fact, I made up the 30 seconds lost and then some, all because of an act of encouragement.
People will ask me why I run. In truth, for lots of reasons, one of them being, people like the Daley’s who get up early not knowing if they’ll find me or not, all for the simple of reason of yelling a quick word of encouragement. And they weren’t the only ones. For about an hour and a half earlier, at 6:15, there was my wife standing in the middle of Katella Avenue hoping to encourage me on. And of course, to see ones family waiting at the finish line makes worth all the effort.
Is there a lesson for us as follower of Jesus? Do I really need to spell it out? I didn’t think so. There is just this challenge: whom can you encourage today? Even if they might be running right past you.

WAY BACK, JUST A FEW WEEKS AFTER CREATION, God stated that it was not good for man to be alone. To this declaration I add my hearty “Amen!” God created woman to be the help-mate of man, and in this past week I was reminded firsthand of the reality of that truth.
This last week I was wifeless and my kids were motherless. Oh we got by pretty well, even ate well and got the wash done, but I greatly missed my wife and my kids missed their mother. There were numerous lessons I was reminded of during this week, like a “woman’s work is never done,” and I really do have some great kids. They rose to the occasion, even has dad was down sick and was attacked by a migraine, they each jumped on board to help out. I am truly blessed.
Another truth of which I was reminded is just how difficult it is to be a single-parent. For those of you who have been called to that awesome task, I humbly salute you. To those of you who manage both family and job full-time I lift up my prayers. Yours is an incredible task. May the Lord grant you the strength, grace, wisdom and peace that is needed in double measure.
There are lots of reasons why someone may be a single-parent, too many to address here, but I do desire to impress upon my readers two things. First, if you are a single-parent God has not and will not abandon you, you are no less in His eyes. Second, to the church I say, let us draw alongside those whose task has been doubled by their role as single-parents. I know I have been blessed by those who have drawn alongside to help me, so may we draw alongside others to help and encourage. Remember: we are family, and so let us live.

Awana Café is back in full swing this Tuesday, with pizza and other good things for you to purchase for your pre-AWANA dinner. The Awana Café is open from 5:45-6:15pm. All profits go toward the Camp Scholarship Fund.

YES, I SPELLED “HOLEY” CORRECTLY! A number of years ago, as we left Elim Mission Church in Cokato, Minnesota, the women of the church presented us with a handmade patchwork quilt. To look at it back then it was rather plain, but it became the favorite quilt in our family. It was often fought over when desiring to snuggle down with a good book, watch a movie, or take a little nap. Sometimes you would have to go searching for it, only to find it “hidden” under the covers on one of the kid’s beds.
Today the quilt, much like the Velveteen Rabbit, finds itself in the state of much-loved tatters. Lots of the batting has fallen out, pieces of the patchwork are missing, and there are signs of attempted repair, not to mention stains from various late-night snacks. Yet, despite its tattered shape it is still well-loved for the comfort it brings, and amazingly, for the warmth it still provides. I dare say it is still the family favorite quilt, a true comforter.
This holey comforter has lovingly wrapped fever-stricken family members, and it has enveloped those suffering from broken hearts. It has provided a cuddling spot for parent and child, and has even been caught snuggled around two siblings. When wrapped in its warmth the problems of the day have been know to melt away, and it has been a place of security on stormy winter nights. It has served our family well, and though we have thought its days were through, it still remains; doing what it was created to do,
The holey comforter…remains.