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Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.
Click on the Thumbnails for the full picture. June 22, 2007
This year's Iron Prayer was held at a new venue just behind the bike transition area. Scott Hanberry of North Star Baptist Church had many volunteers helping direct people to the site. It was attended by over 140 people! Tod Hornby and his worship team, Joel Weldon on guitar and vocals (www.joelweldon.com), Michael Wall on bass, and Shane Smith on percussion, from Lake City Community Church opened up with worship songs. The acoustic performance really helped all get their focus on the Lord and, for the moment at least, off the anxiety of the race. After worship, Mike Terry, Ironman participant and local pastor of Lake Pointe Church, talked about the origins of Iron Prayer and introduced the speakers.
Scott Burkhardt shared his testimony of how God turned his life around. It was when his wife told him that she was filing for divorce that he went on a weeklong drinking binge. Some friends finally intervened and brought him to the hospital and it turned out that he had a .40 blood/alcohol content. At that moment, he turned his life back over to Jesus. He then took up triathlon as a way to get back into shape and turn away from the addictions of the past. He has since completed Ironman Coeur d'Alene twice, placing 6th and 4th in the Clydesdale division! Scott followed his talk with a prayer for the swim portion of the race on Sunday.
Robin Soares talked about encouragement. So often, during an Ironman's challenges of pain, upset stomach, mental fatigue, or just the overwhelming time goal, we become self-focused, blocking out things around us, like others who are trying to encourage us. We miss out on the benefits of receiving, and giving, encouragement. Mutual encouragement is uplifting on both sides and gets the focus back on others and God. God explains the importance of mutual encouragement through Paul's writing in Romans 1:11-12:
"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith."
Robin suggested that athletes and spectators find 3 other people that they can encouragement on race day, even with a simple smile or hand wave.
Robin continued to explain how God also desires us to receive encouragement from Him directly. Romans 15:4-5 says:
"for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus".
Robin suggested that athletes get encouragement during the race by reading verses taped to their bikes. Robin finished with a prayer for the bike portion of the race.
Scott Rigsby shared his testimony of how God has used the loss of his legs to help him realize God's will for him and add meaning to his life. Fresh out of high school he was in a major accident. He was knocked out of the back of a truck and dragged underneath for 300 feet. He lost one leg initially, but after years of pain and dozens of surgeries, he chose to have his other leg removed as well. Up to that point he described his adult life as one of quiet desperation because he knew he wasn't living up to his God-given potential. He felt unfulfilled. 6 weeks after the surgery to remove the 2nd leg, he was running and entering road races and even triathlons. He discovered God's will for his life - It was to show other double amputees that life goes on and that they can, too.
Scott has since set many world records. He is the first below-the-knee double amputee to complete an Olympic distance triathlon, the 1/2 Iron Distance and a marathon. He hopes to add the full Ironman distance to that resume after this Sunday. See Recent CNN Story on Scott Rigsby. Scott finished with a prayer for the run portion of the race.
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