RULE #4 (the last one)

Again, this is a large topic. But as you Have written it, it has logical discontinuity. Nonetheless, things, circumstances, people, event, etc...DO change, but there is One who NEVER changes. And he loves you. You were created to enjoy him and love him eternally. But love has no meaning without it being an act of will. So you have freedom to choose whether you will love him. Perfect love is to obey the greatest commandment: Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And the second greatest command is: love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater love than to lay down your life, or your sense of personhood, for another. But what is real love (being a choice and act of will), without the possibility of evil (the choice and action to not love or to elevated self above others)? There is One who willingly laid his life down for you and others. And if you seek him you will find him if you seek with all your heart.

Your post, I believe, was to be more about running and how to have balance. But true balance is found in truth and then aligning all elements of your life with that truth. So I thought it fair to share the other angle to your viewpoint. This Is not a debate for me so I will not be trying to please the posters. But I did want share with you. Happy running.....

god's not real.

Hi Gerry,

I only just learned about you several months ago, and ever since I discovered you, I've been so intrigued and inspired that I've went and read everything I could find about you. I've read your book twice and I've been implementing a lot of the lessons and inspiration I have received from you, and I love your philosophy on running and life, it's incredibly refreshing! And it has already changed me so much as a runner and a person!

I'd already known about and accepted some of the ideas that you convey to some level, but they were never solid enough that I've had the courage to implement them. I am now running over double the mileage than I have ever sustained before, feeling great, getting MUCH faster, and doing it all for a greater purpose.

I'd love to get in contact with you to talk with you more, please send me an email if you get this message.

Much thanks for everything thus far and hope to hear from you!

Best,

Nathan

I agree. Gerry, just consider reading the Bible, or talking to a pastor. You won't regret it. I've been praying for you

efg sdgsdfgdgsdf wrote:

I've been praying for you

"Several studies of prayer effectiveness have yielded null results. A 2001 double-blind study of the Mayo Clinic found no significant difference in the recovery rates between people who were (unbeknownst to them) assigned to a group that prayed for them and those who were not. Similarly, the MANTRA study conducted by Duke University found no differences in outcome of cardiac procedures as a result of prayer. In another similar study published in the American Heart Journal in 2006, Christian intercessory prayer when reading a scripted prayer was found to have no effect on the recovery of heart surgery patients; however, the study found patients who had knowledge of receiving prayer had slightly higher instances of complications than those who did not know if they were being prayed for or those who did not receive prayer. Another 2006 study suggested that prayer actually had a significant negative effect on the recovery of cardiac bypass patients, resulting in more frequent deaths and slower recovery time for those patients who received prayers."

Why are you praying for him? Don't you like him? ;)

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Grownups shouldn't believe in fairy tales. If they do believe in them, they shouldn't act on them. If they act on them, they shouldn't hurt others in the process.

It doesn't matter whether the fairy tales are ten years old; or 200 years old; or 1,400 years old; or 2,000 years old; or 6,000 years old.

I could be wrong about this. I'd need evidence (assertion is not evidence) to be convinced, though.

Some of Rule # 4 appears to be from the Beatles' song Strawberry Fields.

"Nothing is real"

Strawberry Fields Forever

No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low.

That is you can't you know tune in but it's all right.

That is I think it's not too bad.

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.

Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.

Strawberry Fields forever.

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.

It's getting hard to be someone but it all works out.

It doesn't matter much to me.

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.

Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.

Strawberry Fields forever.

Always know sometimes think it's me, but you know I know and it's a dream.

I think I know of thee, ah yes, but it's all wrong.

That is I think I disagree.

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.

Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.

Strawberry Fields forever.