Mark Wilkerson’s Blog

February 1, 2011

February 1, 2011

Spiritual Prep:

We are having freezing rain, ice, snow and sleet.  I have watched and participated in preparing for this major storm.  We had many who did not come in to work today because of the fear caused by TV.  At this point, it’s not to bad but appears it will get that way at some point.  I am always amazed at how everyone scurries and yet some just won’t get ready.  Matt 25:1-13 is a parable about some people who understood an important major event was coming and they needed to be prepared.  They showed up for the event but squandered the time to prepare.  Time came they were not included because they were not ready.  Preparation is a lifestyle not an occasional episode.       

Training Prep:

Weights tonight.  Core exercise is really helping.  Think the calf raise movement is actually making my plantar fasciitis better or more biking and less running is helping.  While I am preparing for this race, I am preparing for a healthier life as I age.  How about you, will the older person you become be please with how the younger person you are today prepared?

January 31, 2011

January 31, 2011

About Haiti:

Haiti’s farmland is some of the least productive in the world. Widespread deforestation and poor environmental controls have stripped most of Haiti’s hillsides bare, the best topsoil washed downstream long ago.  And demonstrated as recently as 2008, alternating spells of drought and tropical storms can wreak havoc on the country’s large number of small-scale subsistence farmers.  Agricultural development programs are one of the most practical types of ministry in Haiti. If feeding programs are essential for short-term and life-saving relief in Haiti, then agriculture projects are essential for long-term improvement. Without them, there will never be lasting “relief.”  NHCM is working to develop agriculture initiatives ranging from reforestation, to food production, to fish farming, to clean water projects.

Quick Facts

• Only 2 percent of Haiti’s forests remain.
• 71 percent of energy used in Haiti comes from charcoal.
• More than half of Haitians have no access to clean water – 17 percent still filter dirty water with a cloth just to drink it.

Spiritual Prep: 

We are watching the world change before our eyes.  Not that it hasn’t been visible before, the extreme nature of it now calls for our attention.  I have been to Egypt and understand the cry of the people for a better life.  A gift we have been given in the United States, is a country founded on the freedoms granted by a Creator and governed by men with our consent and that it can be abolished by us if it becomes destructive to that end.  (Declaration of Independence, 7/4/1776) 

I pray that as the Egyptian people peaceably march for that same right of self determination, the tyranny of the extremeist will not fill a void and become the only hope and voice for a people desprately in need of wise leadership.  I pray for an extra measure of wisdom upon our leaders in the days ahead.  Lord, calm our world and silence those who would prey upon the situation.  In You I ask, Amen

Training Prep:

Bike night.  Looking to do an hour.  I am a little sore from the weights.  Moved up to more weight gradually but can tell I am at the right level for a while.

January 30, 2011

Spiritual Prep:

I want to be pure in heart.  Just not possible for me by myself and on my own.  Only through Christ can I be pure in heart and I don’t understand how my dark in heart can dwell in me with Christ’s pure in heart.  But I trust his faithfulness to make it happen.  If you only knew me before, you would know that the Spirit of Him, shows through because on my own, I am pretty dark.   Spent time with friends today in Church and then at their home–all day.  Loved every minute of the time (and food).  Hope they are reading so they will know just how special they are to us.  Love you guys! 

Training Prep:

Weights tonight.  Really happy to be doing them.  Used to take rest days.  It seems I still am but not waisting the time.  Feels like a rest because I don’t breath so hard.  Have you started your program yet.  There was a survey conducted about leaders and one of the results might surprise you.  When work associates were surveyed about their leaders, the leaders that did regular exercise were perceived to be the best leaders.  Others perception of us is our responsibility to manage.  Want to be perceived as a better leader, one way might be to exercise.  Might help your own perception of yourself?

January 29, 2011

January 29, 2011

The Miriam Center:  Seeing this center in action is heartbreaking and convictis a person to help it operate.  The value of a human life is just not for the hearty and healthy.   This center exhists for those little ones who cannot defend themselves.  To see the smiles as well as the stark condition of these little broken bodies will break you.   An estimated 5 to 10 percent of babies in Haiti are born with a serious mental or physical handicap each year.  Many of them never get a chance at life.  Some are abandoned by parents who cannot or will not care for them.  Many others die as children from poor medical care.  Ralph was one of those children.  He was born with permanent brain damage and, despite his parents’ best efforts, Ralph died as a baby.  It was for children like Ralph that the Miriam center was conceived.  A generous donor couple, moved by the death of their own daughter to do something for special-needs children in Haiti, worked with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission in 2001 to build the orphanage that is today the Miriam Center.  The only orphanage of its kind in Northwest Haiti, the Miriam Center is a place where disabled children survive and thrive.

Training Prep:

Ran 4 miles today.  OUTSIDE and it was so nice.  Sunshine and about 38 degrees.  Over dressed a little but acceptable.  If you go to runnersworld.com, you can design a running plan that will gradually take you up on a plan, to what ever race you want to walk or run.  I am dedicated to giving my foot a rest (as much as I can stand).

January 28, 2011

Spiritual Prep:

Take a minute and remember a time when you were really– really thirsty.  Now can you remember a time when you really– really needed to hear from God?  So much that you were “thirsty” for Him.  Is it possible to drink from his word and still be thirsty for more?  Absolutely!  Starting and maintaining a relationship with God is to drink living water such that when it is absent, the thirst for scripture is unbearable. 

Training Prep:

Well did weights again today.  Up’d the weight as I work to the right amount per muscle group.  Did some cardio as today is really a rest day but had to juggle the schedule.  Long run tomorrow.  Probably on the treadmill, it’s still a little cold and wet outside.  Liking the weights.  Starting off with a manageable routine, I can already tell I will like the work and will move up gradually.  Knowing what you are going to do makes it much easier.  A tip I learned that helps me in a lot of things is:  decide what you are going to do and do it no matter what.  If it is to run a mile–run a mile.   If that was to long, next time make it only 3/4 of a mile but don’t stop till you reach what you have decided.  That discipline has made me consider ahead and decide just what I am going to do.  I rarely do more but seldom do less.  It helps in much of my life.