Ben's Blog
Bike MS 2008
Posted on: 01 June 2008 at 19:04 EST
The west Michigan Bike MS was this weekend. The weather turned out to be gorgeous! I couldn't have asked for much better. My second year on the ride was absolutely great. The 150 mile ride didn't really seem that long. I would have liked to have done at least one of the century (100-mile) loops but was prevented from doing them on both days (I blew a spoke on Saturday and it closed really early on Sunday).
I biked the entire way with one of my friends, Paige. I think we worked well as a team. We joined up with Team Grouch for a lot of the Sunday ride. It really helps to be in a nice long line of bikers when going up a hill or into the wind. In general, you can go faster with the group.
I got to meet someone with MS, it really helps to put a face on the disease. I didn't know anyone, before I met Lyndon, who actually had the disease. I'm really glad that I help to raise awareness, money, and most of all support for finding a cure and helping people who suffer with MS.
This was a great weekend!
Happily Ever After?
Posted on: 19 May 2008 at 21:43 EST
Yeah right, no one believes in a happily ever after. Americans, especially, are cynics. We will openly admit that life sucks and there isn't that great ending, walking into the sunset, fading to black, roll the credits.
However, with as much as we don't buy into the idea of a fairytale ending, we look for one. We have more ideals that we want to believe. All but the most unfortunate just can't live a life that says there isn't a happily ever after. We rush around looking for it. Heck, we usually try to buy it!
Sadly, it only makes matters worse when we realize that there is not a happily ever after. We cringe when we see that glimpse of hope fade. The world becomes darker and more bitter. Happily ever after? I'll wait for the next Disney movie for that to happen!
It's hard to stay off the horse though. The next time we see the grass growing we imagine a tropical paradise. Why? Why do we insist on looking for the good in a clearly bad world? Human nature? I don't think so, humans don't really jive in a happily ever after sort of way. We are too self-centered for one. The only reason I can think of is a story that should have been happily ever after but just didn't quite play out like the latest princess flick.
If you are really interested in actually living a happily ever after life, just like your favorite childhood book or cartoon, you should really pick up a copy of the bible.
Read through the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
You see, Jesus is the only one in the world that can actually say, and we lived happily ever after...
Rhythm of Life
Posted on: 27 April 2008 at 21:27 EST
We all dance to the beat of a drum. There is something that makes us do what we do. This is the rhythm of life.
The question is, whose rhythm are we dancing to? As far as I can tell, there are two sources capable of playing the drums. Jesus and Satan. Both want our lives but for different ends. Jesus comes to save and heal. Satan comes to deceive, trick, and destroy.
Satan's music is easy to follow and hard to leave. Jesus' music is much better but harder to dance to and harder to find but if you seek, you will find.
So now, the only question is, who is playing your music? To whom do your feet move?
Seek ye first
Posted on: 20 April 2008 at 21:52 EST
Sometimes our priorities get confused. As one of my friends Seth once put it, "it's easy to allow the urgent things to replace the important things."
I have found that if we do not seek God with a whole heart, life is pointless.
Biking
Posted on: 07 April 2008 at 16:03 EST
I am back to biking! After a long hiatus, I am back on the old wheeled horse.
I biked to work today,, I sure am sore! I hope to continue piling up the mileage, getting in shape, and saving petrol!
Update
Posted on: 11 March 2008 at 09:21 EST
Wow, I have not written here in quite some time. I think it is time for an update.
I am almost done with my second to last term at Kettering University. The term is going well. I have become more active in activities on campus. I am a contributor to the school newspaper, an active member of the leadership team for Campus Crusades for Christ, the President of an honor society, and leader of a prayer ministry team.
God is good! I recently got back from a trip to Rochester, NY where I attended a friend's wedding. The wedding really reminded me of the love Christ has for believers and the church.
I'm sure there is a lot more to add here but I am going to end this updated now.
T-Minus Three Days
Posted on: 10 January 2008 [Edited: 22 March 2008] at 23:04 EST
In three days, I will be back in Flint. School starts on the 14th. I have grown so much this term that I am excited to get back to Flint and share my good news with those around me. I want to help people grow in their relationship with God. I feel as excited to get back to Flint as I have since I was a Freshman.
This is my second to last term at Kettering and at this point I am hoping to start some lasting relationships and impact the campus in a big way (through Jesus of course). I am really excited to see what 2008 has in store!
2007 - A Year in Print
Posted on: 31 December 2007 [Edited: 08 January 2008] at 11:59 EST
Wow, where do I start? This has been the busiest and best year of my life. My birthday falls a week in to the new year (on January 7) so 2007 was basically my year of being 21.
2007 was a year on the move. For a brief recap: I moved 4 times (as usual) between Flint and Grand Rapids, made numerous trips to Indiana and Northern Michigan to visit family, spent a week in New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina relief, and drove out to Seattle, WA to visit some friends.
I learned a lot about a lot :). I faced a coming of age and a “ways of this world” crisis (learning how to act and respond in the world of adults). I worked hard (school, work, and training for various races). I experienced some failures and disappointments (although not too horribly many). I sought for love and joy in the world (to no avail). Most importantly, I decided that where I was, was not where I wanted to be. I stopped using my transient position (in one place for three months then moving to another) as an excuse. I sought God and God did not forsake me (in reality, it was God who sought me). I have grown so much in and through Christ. I can honestly say that his love is good! I started listening to his voice and seeking friendship and guidance with the Holy Spirit. Throughout this growth, he has lead me with friendships and bible studies. I recently joined the prayer ministry team at my church, a missions team through a local prayer house, and regularly volunteer at a local community center/coffeehouse. God is showing me my gifts and abilities!
In 2007, I did a lot of physical exercise. I started cycling (road cycling) as a hobby and cheap transportation to work (11 miles one-way). I rode in a 150-mile race for charity. I trained for a triathlon (swimming, biking, running). In August, I ran a 10-mile race in Flint, MI. In September, I completed my first triathlon (a Sprint sized triathlon). The hardest part of training was splitting time between working out and schooling (I was taking 20 credit hours or 5 classes). The diversion from the challenging school was welcome. I even had my best academic term while at college (3.9 GPA). In addition to the academic merits, I found purpose for my degree and am considering further education in an advanced field of Electrical Engineering.
I made quite a few new friends this year too! I got to know some people both at school and in Grand Rapids, MI. I really hope to continue these friendships. I would like to be inspired by these friendships and inspire these friends.
Traveling across the country was awesome! Going to New Orleans showed me that condemnation is not for man and we all need to love and help one another regardless of age, sex, race, religion, and social status. I also learned to judge less (the book and the cover do not always match). I learned how to relax and have a good time (It is the Big Easy after all). I felt my heart for the first time in a long time (more on this later). I could even feel God moving in that broken city.
I really enjoyed my trip out West too. Experiencing the country is priceless. I still have a hard time believing that I drove 5,000+ miles in five days! I got to spend two days in Seattle, WA with my good friends Dan and Christie Ellis. The best parts of the trip included seeing the beautiful country, driving through rolling hills and mountains, and touring Seattle (not to mention being able to see the Cascade Mountain from anywhere in Seattle).
I took many pictures this previous year. Thanks to my Christmas and Birthday present from my dad, an awesome camera. I Took 3,500+ pictures! Most of these are online at: http://picasaweb.google.com/reeseman04.
This summer, I even started golfing! My grandparents took me out for my first round of golf. Surprisingly I did nearly decent! I look forward to this hobby in the coming year.
My favorite football team, the Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl! Go Colts!
This Christmas was on the best I have had in recent years. I really enjoyed spending time with my family and giving gifts to all sorts of people. Among all the blessings I have previously listed, God gave me a special Christmas gift (in addition to Christ). God gave me a new heart for Christmas! My old hard was filled with anger and had hardened and decayed from many years of apathy and struggles. After receiving salvation when I went to college, the hate and anger in my heart went away. This left my heart feeling empty and dead. Over the course of this previous year, God has successfully replaced my old heart with a new one. This came through many different experiences, situations, and prayers. I still have to learn how to use it but I can feel (something that I really could not do before, it was more like motions and should/should not’s). Through this gift, I feel that God is ready (and has started) to pour even more gifts into my life.
This also comes at a time when I have really spent a lot of time trying to understand myself more thoroughly. Thanks to some guidance from a couple of friends, I have really started to understand who I am. As a part of this, God has taught me to look for contentment wherever life has placed me. This lesson is hard but the benefits of following the instructions are priceless!
I hope to take all of my gifts and experiences from 2007 into 2008.
2007 was a year that brought me closer to heaven, and 2008, I pray, is simply going to be great!
Have a blessed New Year!
Experience the Joy of the Season: We are made to love!
Posted on: 17 December 2007 at 20:46 EST
"I was made to love and be loved by you"
Toby Mac shouts as he raps in his song Made to Love.
Truly we are made to love! I have never experienced more joy than I have tonight.
I spent most of the evening handing out gifts and coffee to people on the streets of Grand Rapids. I was able to help some people experience God's love in a real (warm) way!
"Anything, I would give up for you. Everything, I give it all away!"
It's true, you give and offer to God and He will listen and accept your humble gifts! Even more amazing, He gives back! It might not be monetary or even physical but you know when God gives. You can feel it, taste it, know it.
So I implore you to start giving. Don't worry about the helping all 6 billion people on earth, just concentrate on helping! It's not doing everything, it's simply doing something.
To Feel or To Know
Posted on: 13 December 2007 at 15:30 EST
My experiences in life recently have taught me that it is much better to know than to feel. Feelings are very trite and temporary. Prior to reaching this conclusion, I was always waiting to start "feeling." In other words, I was always waiting until I felt like doing something. This train of thought caused me to miss a lot of opportunities.
Being an engineer, I have a hard time feeling emotions. In many ways, this revelation has been truly revolutionary. In the last few months, I have accomplished more goals than in the previous years. I now know what I need to do and no longer wait for the correct feelings to influence my actions.
Knowing is not everything but it goes a long ways. I have found it impossible to stand under pressure without the knowledge why I am standing.
What it means to be a Christian: Introduction
Posted on: 28 October 2007 [Edited: 28 October 2007] at 19:19 EST
Christian, the word conjures images of conservative, not-so-fun, not-so-risky people who spend the early parts of Sunday in a room with similar people, all of whom sing songs and listening to a guy preaching for a while. Then they leave, cut you off on the road, leave a stingy tip at the restaurant, say rude things and act like they don't have anything more special than you (except they have a book which they put on the shelf for the Monday through Saturday routine).
I am here to say that is not what Christians are. They created this public persona in the world. Inside and out, true Christians are so much more than this!
In my experiences, I have been very successful at being the aforementioned “Christian.” I successfully differentiated my spiritual life from the “world” life. I all too often ignored the teachings of Jesus. I spent a long time thinking that I was doing what God wanted me to do.
The general meaning of the word Christian is little Christ. People who say they are a Christian and do not portray Jesus (as the Bible portrays Jesus) is merely someone who goes to a church.
The mini-Jesus (Christian) will step out of their comfort zone. They will help when needed: Encourage, comfort, feed, cloth, support monetarily, heal. (All of these with the help of the Holy Spirit)
Most importantly, a Christian will love strangers as much as they love their friends. Genuine and true love for all humanity is the best way to be Jesus to a world in pain.
Author's note:
This is the first in what I hope to be a multiple part series on what Christianity means to me. The writings should challenge the conceived notions of Christianity for both the believer and the non-believer. I hope to avoid using too many clichés and “Chritian-ese” (words used in a Christian setting but not known to non-Christians). This should be a non-denominational writing (what I say should be able to be applied by Catholics and Protestants (of any type) alike). I want what I say to be rooted in the Holy Bible because I believe that it is the lifeline of all Christians. In the subsequent entries, I hope to include a plethora of references. I am human and will make errors, please feel free to point them out.
Triathlon
Posted on: 15 September 2007 [Edited: 16 September 2007] at 12:52 EST
Update:
The swim was pretty tough, I was not prepared for the temperature of the water or the rough open surface. I pretty much panicked and was able to get through because I had no other choice!
Other than the swim and the resulting slow transition time, I felt that I did fairly well.
I came in 4/7 in my age group and 124/232 overall
My times:
Swimming:
Place Time Pace
166 14:05 2:49
Transition 1:
7:23
Biking:
Place Time Pace
90 39:02 18.4
Transition 2:
1:24
Running:
Place Time Pace
85 25:44 8:17
Overall time:
1:27:37
This is the official triathlon thread for my first triathlon competition.
I have been training for this since early July. Swimming six days a week and running or biking (although I got lazy on the biking) every other day. The training has been difficult and at times I felt like I might not be able to compete.
I recently changed my breathing pattern in swimming and am not sure if I will be able to hold out with the newer, faster (but more demanding) style.
I also seem to have some sort of minor congestion in my body, but I am feeling better with each day. Lord willing, I'll not even notice it during tomorrow's events.
I am doing a Sprint Triathlon. It will involve a 500 meter swim in an open lake, a 20k (12.5 miles) bike, and a 5k (3.1 miles) run.
My biggest concerns include: the temperature (it's supposed to be in the 40's), my slight congestion, and my dietary needs since I am a vegan and these sorts of things require a large amount of protein and carbs. I have been loading up, so hopefully that won't be a problem.
Ben