I really dig the "08 book of Steve":
Hebrews 12:1-2NIV …let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the thrown of God.
We are all familiar with race marking ribbons, direction arrows, course maps and even warnings of dangers that can hinder our race efforts and eventually take us out of a race. Off-road racing isn’t a sprint; it’s a long race with many laps and/or miles that requires perseverance no matter what booby trap, bump, danger or silt that entangles us. You don’t climb into your race truck not willing to change a flat tire! When that flat comes, you don’t give up, you still desire to race, and not just race, compete to win. It’s a competition, a battleground, a war. Tires will fail, shocks will fade, trannys will over heat, and motors will blow head gaskets. When you strap in for that ride, you are willing to compete at any cost. But we can’t do it alone, we can’t do it without support and we’re not expected to. We have pits, chase crews, helicopters, a copilot ……. and we have sponsors helping with the expenses.