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6BODYOFCHRISTNEWSSEPTEMBER2014ByPeggyNorwoodPh.DIhavecompleted8triathlons-sprinttriathlonstobeexact.Asprinttri-athlonisahalf-mileswima12-milebikerideanda3.1-milerun.MyfirstthreetriathlonswereintheDanskinWomensTriathlonSeries.TheDanskinsloganisThewomanwhostartstheraceisnotthesamewomanwhofinishestherace.Competingintriathlonshastransformedmenotjustphysicallybutemotionallymen-tallyandspiritually.Ihaveconcludedthatwithhardworkandpersever-ancethereisnothingIcannotdo.IcandoallthingsthroughChristwhostrengthensme.Philippians413TruthbetoldIswimbreaststrokeridemybikeprettyslowlyandwalknotrunthefinalthreemiles.ButthesportoftriathlonhastaughtmethatitisnotsoimportanthowfastIgobutthatImINtheraceandIcanFINISHtherace.Mygoalwastocomplete10tri-athlonsbyage50.Ihadtocanceloneofmytriathlons9inordertoattendafriendsweddingandasaresultIgotofftracktocomplete10.Unfortunatelymy50thbirthdaycameandwentandIdidnotachievemygoal.AtfirstIfeltextremelydisap-pointed.ButthenIrealizednooneismakingmedothisitsentirelyuptome.Ihaveoptions.IcandoitornotdoitandIcanskipayearifIneedto.TheconnectionwasnotimmediatelyapparentbutasIthoughtaboutmysituationIwasremindedofwhoIaminChrist.MyplansmaynotcometopassbutIcanbesurethatGodspur-posewillprevail.HolySpiritleadsandguidesmebutGodwillneverviolatemyfreewillIcanchoosetofollowhimornot.AndmostimportantlyevenifIchoosenottofollowhimorIfailandcomeupshortGodstilllovesme.NomatterwhatIdoordontdoIamdeeplylovedbyhim.AsIponderedmysituationfurtherIrealizedthatIwasalsosufferingfromall-or-nothingthinkingaclassiccognitivedistortionthatcontributestodepressionanddiscouragementandsfueledbyareligiousspirit.EitherIcompletemygoalperfectlyandonscheduleorIhavefailed.EitherIama100goodallofthetimeorIamnogoodatall.HowmanytimeshaveyougivenuponagoalaltogetherbecauseyoucameupshortorhadjustonelittlesetbackHowoftendoyouquitatsome-hingyousayyoureallywantwhenyouencounteranobstacleWecanchoosetoreplacethisall-or-nothinghinkingwithGodsgrace.ImdoinghebestIcanandthisisgoodenoughfornow.IamrighteousinChrist.Hisgraceisenoughforme.Hisstrengthismadeperfectinmyweakness.EventhoughIwasunabletocom-pletealltentriathlonsonmyoriginaltimetableIcanstillpursuemygoal.ItdoesnthavetolookexactlyasIini-tiallyplanned.IcancompletethelasttwotriathlonsbeforeIturn51.MeanwhileIamputtingonefootinfrontoftheotherandcontinuingtomovetowardmygoal.Idisplaymytriathlonmedalsinmybedroomdanglingfrommydressermirror.TheyserveasaremindertomeofwhatIhaveaccomplisheddespitemyshortcomingsandsetbacksandtheyremindmetocontinuetopresson.IdontknowexactlyhowallofthiswillplayoutbutIcanassureyouthatIamstillintheraceButonethingIdoForgettingwhatisbehindandstrainingtowardwhatisaheadIpressontowardthegoaltowintheprizeforwhichGodhascalledmeheavenwardinChristJesus.Philippians313b-14TESTIMONYDr.PeggyMitchellNorwoodisamentalhealthconsultantordainedministerandauthorofthenewbookDoggieTalesLessonsonLifeLoveandLossILearnedFromMyDog.Formoreinforma-tionvisitwww.DrPegOnline.comorcall303-745-4944.PeggyNorwoodImStillinTheRaceHowmanytimeshaveyougivenuponagoalaltogetherbecauseyoucameupshortorhadjustonelittlesetbackHowoftendoyouquitatsomethingyousayyoureallywantwhenyouencounteranobstacleAsablackimmigrantfromAfricaauthorDr.EleazarAzuomaOnyealioffersafreshanduniqueviewpointonthecampaignandelectionoftheUnitedStatesfirstblackpresidentBarackObamainhisbookObamatheDreamersDream.Writteninatwo-partnarrativeformatandpreviouslypublishedinDenversBodyofChristNewsObamatheDreamersDreamsharesOnyealisthoughtsideasandactionsinrelationtothe2008primariescampaignandelection.ItprovidesashortglimpseofthelongjourneyforparityinblackAmerica.InthismemoirOnyealirecallshowhefeltinspiredbyObamasHopeandChangemessageandhowhewasdrawntothecandidatesnoblecauseandthedynamicgrassrootsmovementthatspreadacrossthecountry.ObamatheDreamersDreamtellsofOnyealissupportforObamasrefreshingandspiritedplatformandhisenthusi-asmforwhathecallstheObamaPhenomenon.ThroughthisstoryOnyealishareshisbeliefsthatObamaisaspe-cialman.Dr.EleazarAsuomaOnyealiwasborninUmunjamNigeria.AfterthecountryscivilunresthemovedtotheUnitedStatesandearnedadoctorateinchiropracticfromLifeUniversitySchoolofChiropracticinMariettaGeorgia.OnyealihadapracticeinAuroraColoradofortenyears.HewasalsoacontributortotheBodyofChristNewsinDenver.AdevotedhusbandandfatheroftwochildrenhepassedawayinJanuaryof2011.ObamatheDreamersDreamisavailableatwww.iuni-verse.comObamaTheDreamersDream