DADs,

The first thing I learned during the first 5K race I ever ran was that the adrenaline would kick in at the start of the race!

I found myself getting caught up in the others pace. Instead of trusting the pace that I had practiced for weeks during my work outs. This adrenaline spike quickly wore off and I found myself highly fatigued and losing ground.

Amazingly, as I got back on my pace, I slowly but surely passed many of those that had sprinted past me at the start.

In our walk with God, it is the same. To be in flow with God’s pace is so important and God’s pace is different for each of us. 

With God it is not a sprint, but a marathon.

1 Corinthians 9:24; Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

What is important to God is not how we start the race. or even how fast our pace is. but that we are always moving forward. His desire is that we actually finish the race that counts!    

DADs, During this upcoming holiday season, be sure to pace yourself. Take opportunities to remember to “run in such a way as to get the prize."

Suiting Up!

Dr. Jeff Springer

DADS,

The worse part about running is stretching. As a runner I have found that the older I get the more important it is for me to stretch.

Oh to be young again and just jump out on the road and run!

Some days I am tempted to skip stretching and it always results in either poor performance or injury that prevents me from running all together.

Just like running, each day is so much better when you stretch spiritually with God. Either in the quiet of the morning or the still of a late evening, getting into His word through the spiritual stretching of prayer or reading the Bible will give you the peace and joy needed to press on through life’s work out!     

Just as Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14;

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

DADs, when you make time to spiritually “stretch" each day, you will be a better dad and husband to your precious family. You will also be better to those God puts into your daily path. 

DADs…“get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon men…Suit Up!

Blessings! 

Dr. Jeff Springer

DADs,

When I started training two years ago, I did not even have a work out plan. I had no real goals or identified a desired outcome.   

Without a good plan, my running became somewhat meaningless with nothing to aim for.

So after doing some research I found a work out that would lead me through a 9 week cycle building each day towards the end goal of running a 5K.

Finally, my running made sense. I set my sights with new energy as now I had work outs with “end in mind”.    

DADs, we also need a work out plan when it comes to our relationship with God. 

Whatever the work out plan is in order for it to be purposeful it has to be intentional.

Habakkuk 2:2 Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it."

DADs, remember that with God the “end in mind” should be working out daily in such a way that Honors Him while running the race here on earth so that when our race is over, we can enter into His presence and sit at His Heavenly table!  

Suiting Up!

Dr. Jeff Springer

DADs, 

What’s on your bucket list? 

One of mine when I turned 50 was to get off the couch and run a 5K, 3.1 miles.

Since then I have run over 10 and now the new goal is to start running 10Ks!

Unfortunately that means I must now train a little harder and go a little longer.  

To do that, I must ensure that my equipment is up to the challenge to protect me from injury while training. In doing this, I must evaluate my running shoes to ensure they are in good enough condition to handle the extra mileage.

If not, I need to suit up with some new ones!   

Just like running my training with God needs regular evaluation too.  

The great thing about working out with God is the only equipment you need is your Bible.  Unlike running shoes, the Bible never wears out!

Psalm 119:105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Suiting Up! 

Dr. Jeff Springer

DADs,

At the end of every NASCAR race you will see two unique traditions:

First, the winner of the race is usually handed the checkered flag to hold as a banner outside his window as he or she takes a victory lap. Next, the winning driver typically does a burn out, spinning their car in circles while creating a cloud of smoke and  black marks from the tires on the track!   

Clearly a predictable finish for anybody that has watched more than one NASCAR race!

Yet, each celebration is a little different. Each victory is so sweet. Each driver in the back of his or her mind knowing this victory came with a price and are sure not to take this moment for granted! Some realize, I am sure, that another victory is never guaranteed and may never come again!

DADs, as Christians and drivers in Gods race, the great news is this; we can go to victory lane everyday. Knowing that God holds our winnings in his hands.

In 1 Corinthians 15:57 Pauls writes:

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

DADs, TODAY consider how you will celebrate your victories and countless blessings that God has given you? 

How will you reflect and give thanks to God for the victory with your family?

Remember with God we work from the victory, not for the victory

Dr. Jeff Springer

DADs,

A few years ago, I was watching a NASCAR race on TV. 

After numerous cautions throughout the race it looked like there would be a clear winner. 

One driver had what seemed to be a sure victory as he extended his lead over the other drivers in the final laps.

But then suddenly on the final turn something happened, not slowing down he took the curve too wide and crashed into the wall allowing another driver to edge him out of the first-place finish.

DADs, how often have you been so close to a finish line in your life, a deadline at work, vacation plans for family, or great intentions to complete a task at home?

But for some reason we find ourselves distracted and just like the  NASCAR driver we take things a little too fast and causing us to fall short of the goal?

So DADs hear the good news!

Romans 3:23; “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The question is then, knowing that we will sometimes fall short of the finish, will we have the humility to ask God to help us through today’s curves we may face? 

DADs…“get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon men…Suit Up!

Dr. Jeff Springer

I was once watching a NASCAR race on TV and after 400 hundred miles one of the drivers that had the lead on the last lap ran out of gas on the final lap allowing 

another to pass him for the victory.

Now being a fairly new fan of racing, I am still learning the strategies of the race. What I am finding out is that there are many adjustments to each drivers original start plan throughout the race.

Depending on how each driver handles different circumstances that he or she encounters during a race will often determine the final outcome.  

Many times the drivers that are able to finish and even win are the ones that take heed to listen to the instructions that they are given by their crew chief throughout the day. 

Deuteronomy 7:12

"If you listento and are careful to keep these ordinances, the LORD 

your God will keep His covenant loyalty with you, as He swore to your fathers.

Who or what is it your crew chief? Is your heavenly father trying to tell you something today?

Will you take heed or will you run out of gas not being able to finish the race?

DADs…“get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! 

So…C’mon DADs…Suit Up!

Dr. Jeff Springer

DADs,

This week I am talking about the similarities of my new found 

obsession NASCAR and our life in general.

For example, just like in NASCAR, we often find ourselves on the FAST track going around and around at high speeds trying to win the human race. To ensure that we are able to keep going so we don’t run out of gas or blow a tire, we NEED to listen to the advice of our "crew chief" and make a pit stop!

DADs, the problem is we are sometimes the NASCAR driver that fails to heed direction and reluctant to trust the advice of others and our personal "crew chief", our Heavenly Father.

DADs, You see, to be in control of your race we must relinquish the wheel 

and allow God to be the real driver of our lives!        

Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the plans I have for you, this is the LORD's declaration—

"plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

In all circumstances God, our Heavenly Father, knows best!

DADs,

Where in your life do you need a pit stop to receive God’s plan for your race? 

 DADs…“get in the game”…Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon DADs…Suit Up!

Dr. Jeff Springer

DADs,

Recently, I caught the Nascar fever. 

For years I never understood the excitement of watching cars go around and around a track for 3 or 4 hours! But, after giving Nascar a real chance I have discovered that there is a lot more to this racing thing than meets the eye.

For instance, what other sport begins with a chaplain saying a prayer to God and His son Jesus Christ aired live for all those watching on TV to hear?

Talk about evangelism.

Now, I am not endorsing nor soliciting your support of Nascar, but I am celebrating the fact that a major spectator event that occurs 36 weekends a year on national networks. Nascar demonstrates its boldness and is not ashamed to give glory to our country’s Christian foundation and belief in Jesus.

In Philippians 1:20 Paul says;

My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, 

but that now as always, with all boldness,Christ will be highly 

honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

DADs, do not be ashamed, like Nascar, to show your boldness for Christ? 

Be eager to model your boldness for your kids and your family today!

DADS…“get in the game”…Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon men…Suit Up!

Dr. Jeff Springer

DADs, how many times have you set your sights on a goal

only finding yourself falling short or missing the target?

How often have you prepared long & hard for a job interview only to receive 

a thanks but no thanks letter in the mail a week after the process?

How often has a loved one made a decision that caused hard ache to you or your family?

Disappointment is a part of life. 

A friend once told me that in the good times or in the bad times, 

the statement “this too shall pass” works in all situations. 

I don’t know about you but I don’t really find much comfort in that.

In Romans 8:28, I do find a more appropriate answer. Paul tells his disciples, 

“We know that all things work together for the good of those 

who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.”

In the midst of disappointment or failures it is hard to see God’s purpose but we must find the faith in the storm that is God’s will.

Even in dark circumstances will be eventually revealed.

Remembering that Paul places emphasis on His purpose versus ours allows us to pick up the pieces and persevere It is written in James 1:12, 

“blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; because when he has stood the test, 

he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those that love Him”.

DADs, trials, disappointments, failures; we all go through them.

God does not want us to waiver regardless of our conditions, instead God wants His DADs to continue to carry His banner. 

Be the men that love Him and always stand firm in Christ! 

DADs…“get in the game”…Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon men…Suit Up!

Dr. Jeff Springer