Brothers, I do not account of myself to have laid hold but one thing I do: Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, I pursue toward the goal for the prize to which God in Christ Jesus has called me upward. We chat and sing in the car together and I answer approximately eight bazillion questions a day. I mean, I'm almost always with at least one of my kids. "Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue, if even I may lay hold of that for which I also have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Eye contact is just a simple, basic common courtesy, but the busy life makes me forget all about it. New life in Jesus spilled out all over the place as the tiny congregation lifted their voices to their Lord. Instead of answering prayers for healing, God sent peace, and I didnt want any part of it. "Therefore let us also, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, put away every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and run with endurance the race which is set before us, Looking away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2) Recovery VersionĮxperientially, when we turn to our mingled spirit we are brought out of ourselves, out of our condition, out of our sovereign environment into the realm of enjoyment, joy, and peace into our awesome Christ who is our Victorious King! We overcomer all the earthly entanglements to run our Christian race! Some would say the abandoned church building, the aging well-known pastor/musician and his wife, and Joe have seen better days.