Quick Share

Here is an e-mail I recieved the other day. I normally don't forward stuff because I know people are already getting enough stuff. This I had to share.

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States.

Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course their freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was
studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.

"How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time"

"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it."

Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday.. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone
was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

"Sure!" Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship..

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own
push-ups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr... Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Dr.. Christianson said, "Look! This is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to
slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr.. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, "No!" and there were all these uneaten
donuts on the desks..

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row.. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that
ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to
come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut."

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."

"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room..

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is
the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push-ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."

"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With
the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten. "

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His Only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price
has been paid."

"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"

Share this with someone. It's bound to touch their heart and demonstrate Salvation in a very special way.
Psalms 138:8


Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal - don't quit on me now.


I wish I were not such a selfish person. I am so thankful God was willing to sacrifice for me.

Loving life and making it longer.

SHEP

4-12-2010

What a great day. It was a long day, but still a great day. I had a great day st school today. All of my students were happy to be back and to see everyone.

I told my class about the 5K I am running in on Saturday and told them they would recieve some school money if they same and ran with me. I am not sure if anyone will come out, but the offer was made.

At recess I played basketball with a lot of the students. They really have a good time playing. They have no idea they are exercising in the process of having fun.

After school I had to go to a meeting at the big university. It was supposed to be over at 5:15, nope it ran over. I was going to go to the track and run after my meeting before I headed to the gym to play basketball. I did not have enough time to do both, so I picked the one I wanted to do the most.

The old Shep would have just said "I can make it up tomorrow". Nope! I was going to get in some exercise one way or the other.

I played for about 2 hours tonight. I really got a great work out in tonight. I am going to do some work out at the track the next couple of days to help get me ready for the race on Saturday.

I am looking forward to setting a new personal record and eventually extending my mileage so I can work up to a half marathon and a full marathon.

I am slowly getting to where I need to be and I love it. I have gotten so many compliments about how good I am looking now that the weight is coming off. I feel good about myself for the first time in a very long time.

Looking forward to getting back out in this beautiful weather.

SHEP

Back to school tomorrow

I am back to school tomorrow. SPRING BREAK WAS GREAT! We had such a relaxing time down on the island. Tomorrow we are back at the grind. I have two weeks left before I am done with my undergrad career. I will miss my students, but I am throughly looking forward to graduation. It has been a long time coming.

Tomorrow night I am playing some basketball. Cannot wait. I am looking forward to playing.

I know Phil Mickleson doesnt read my blog, but CONGRATS Phil.

My next 5K is coming up this Saturday. I cannot wait. I am so ready. My legs feel great. My shins havent been bothering me here lately. I hope they stay cool during the run and I can get down to 36 minutes or so. Would love to get under 30, but I have not been training enough to drop that kind of time.

If you dont have anything going on Saturday come and run with us. Join our little family running Saturday.

SHEP

Vacation has come to an END.

I am sad to say that my vacation is over. It was a great vacation. Monday we traveled down to Edisto, SC. We set up our little pop-up camper and went down to the beach.

On Tuesday morning I went for a nice little run down a dirt road that ran beside the marsh. It was very cool running under the live oak trees with the moss hanging down.

Tuesday afternoon we sat out on the beach reading and relaxing for about 4 hours. WOW! I sure did get some sun. My knees were so sun burnt it hurt to walk, so no running for me.

We went into Charleston and walked around for a little while. We asked a young lady selling Italian ice where the Battery was. She told us to keep going straight and we would run right into it. NOPE, she was dead wrong. If we would have kept walking straight we would have ended up in Columbia. All we had to do was walk about 3 blocks to the left and we would have been there. Nope, we walked about 10 blocks in the wrong direction and then the 5 blocks to the left correcting the mistake. I sure did get plenty of exercise this day.

The rest of the week we pretty much sat around enjoying some good books. I cannot wait for the next vacation.

Looking like a red faced raccoon.

SHEP

spring break 2010 day 1

We made it to Edisto Beach State Park about 5 PM today. We got our camp site set up and hit the beach. We looked around to see what we could get into tomorrow.

I did not do any running or any thing today, but plan on it tomorrow for sure. I hope to run down to the beach and back. Its not a long trip, but its not short either.

We are sitting out by the camp fire now. Trevor is kind of like me, he has to be talking if he is awake. I love to sit around the campfire and just relax. This activity my son has yet to find the joy in. Pray that I dont string this child up by his toes. LOL. I told him I was blogging about him, his response, your blog is missing? Where did it go Dad?

I love it.

Happy Easter

I just want to wish you a happy Easter. I hope you get to enjoy spending time with your loved ones. I appreciate every one who reads my blog and follows my journey. I am going to pray for whatever it is that is going on in your life. I am going to ask God to bless, protect, and heal you.

I have been posting for almost 3 months now and I have 900 visits. I am so excited about my progress.

I have gotten a bunch of messages from people encourgaing me along and messages from people telling me I am an inspiration. Keep the messages rolling in, I love them.

HAPPY EASTER

SHEP

Not Sick

Today was a wonderful day. I felt great, the sun was shining, and SPRING BREAK began at the end of the school day. We had career day for the first half of the day. Not only did our students get to go around and learn about different careers, but I also learned that Chick-fil-a will begin selling spicy chicken sandwiches on June 7th.

At recess several I play basketball with the kids. Several of the kids wanted to race me across the playground. Of course I am a playful kinda soul so I raced them. I am doing as much as I can to help them understand they need to become healthy. I encourage them to run and be active.

When I got home today I wanted to go for a little run. Several weeks ago I paced of a half mile from my drive way using my odometer. I ran to the .5 mile spot and back. This is the way I got myself into running shape when I decided to join the Army back in the day. My time today was 9:59. Not great, but by no means my worst time posted. I am going to continue doing this until my time drops. This strategy helped me eventually get down to a 7 minute mile. I think with my determination I am going to get down to a six minute mile. Especially when I go from running these few little hills to flat ground.

While running today I did not have any shin pain. I am so glad I was able to run relatively pain free today.

Cannot wait to be running on the beach on Monday.

SHEP