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Compiled by the Faith Newsletter editor: Burt Pearson
Contents:
From your Pastor
Helpful Websites
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From your Pastor |
Probably everyone has heard of Dick and Rick Hoyt, the father and son marathon / triathlon team
from Massachusetts. Over the last 30 years, Dick has pushed and pulled his son countless miles and crossed hundreds of finish lines. The triathlons are the ultimate test of strength. All the way Dick pulls, pushes, and carries Rick's 11O-pound frame over the course of the 2A-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run. When Dick runs, Rick is in a special built wheel chair that Dick is pushing. When Dick cycles, Rick is in the seat-pod from his wheelchair, attached to the front of the bike. When Dick swims, Rick is in a small, firmly stabilized boat being pulled by Dick. As of August 2008 they have competed in 984 total events.
When Rick was born in 1962 the umbilical cord coiled around his neck and cut off oxygen to his
brain. Dick and his wife, Judy, were told that there would be no hope for their child's development.
When he was eight months old the doctors told them they should just "put him away" because he
would be a vegetable all of his life. However, the couple brought their son home determined to raise him as "normally" as possible. Within five years, the Hoyts had two more sons and they were convinced Rick was just as intelligent as his siblings. However, since Rick could not talk, the local school authorities would not permit him to attend school surmising that he would not be able to understand the content being taught. A group of Tufts University engineers came to the rescue, after they were convinced that Rick did have comprehension skills. So in 1972 they built him an
interactive computer that would allow Rick to write out his thoughts using the slight head-movements that he could manage. A cursor would move across a screen filled with rows of letters, and when the cursor highlighted a letter that Rick wanted, he would click a switch with the side of his head. In 1975, Rick was finally admitted into a public school. Two years later, he told his father he wanted to participate in a five-mile benefit run for a local lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Dick, who was far from being a long-distance runner, agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair. They finished the race in next to last place, but that night, Dick recalls: "Rick told us he just didn't feel handicapped when we were competing." And that was all Dick needed to hear, and they have been competing ever since.
When they first began to compete no one really wanted Rick in a road race, and early on they faced
some resistance. Attitudes began to change, however, when they entered the Boston Marathon in 1981, and finished in the top quarter of the field. After 4 years of marathons, "Team Hoyt" attempted their first triathlon - and for this Dick had to learn to swim! With a newly built bike (adapted to carry Rick in front) and a boat tied to Dick's waist as he swam, the Hoyts came in second-to-last in the competition held on Father's Day 1985.
Due to his parent's relentless commitment to their son Rick, he has his own accomplishments, apart from Team Hoyt competing in marathons and triathlons. After graduating from high school, he went on to Boston University, where he graduated in 1993 with a degree in special education. Rick now works at Boston College's computer laboratory helping to develop a system codenamed "Eagle Eyes," through which mechanical aids (like for. Instance. a powered wheelchair) could be controlled by a paralyzed person's eye-movements, when linked-up to a computer.
Team Hoyt's influence has spread well beyond their racing career and inspired countless people.
One father writes:
"I write this because I am a father and to my shame I have been nothing like you Dick. I have been selfish more than I have been selfless. 1am not raising my son the say I intended to raise him. And up to this point you can say I have failed. But yesterday in a moment's time I was changed. My heart was broken when I saw how much you must love your son to put yourself through such agony that he might experience the thrill of the race. Yesterday it became less about me, and more about being my children's father. I thank you sir."
As awe inspiring as the story of this earthly father's love is for his disabled son, (I can't even watch any of the video clips without becoming an emotional wreck), our Heavenly Father's love for us in Christ makes their amazing story look trivial. Dick Hoyt climbs mountains and runs to the ends of the earth and back to give his son a better life--a life that transcends the limitations of his body. And there is no doubt, humanly speaking, he epitomizes one of the most astounding examples of
selfless love. But our Heavenly Father gave his Son Jesus (had his Son tortured to death) as a sacrifice for our sins, and poured out His just wrath on His Son so that we could have eternal life--a life that transcends the limitations of our sin, and our current mortality. What wondrous love is this!
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Grace and peace,
Pastor Adams |
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Helpful Websites |
Below is a list of different websites that might be helpful for parents and youth while school is not in session. Enjoy!!
Free Stuff Youth Culture
http://www.cpyu.org/
http://quiz.christiansunite.com/
http://www.ruf.org/
College campus ministry
http://wwwyouthministry.com/
Lots of music resources including devotionals
http://rymonline.org/
http://www.gettymusic.com/
http://www.igracemusic.com/
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/
Reviews for movies,music and TV
http://www.redmountainchurch.org/
Devotional Material
http://www.reformedpraise.org/
http://www.livingchrist360.com/
Devotional material from Covenant Study Resources Seminary
http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://www.crosswalk.com/
This site has a neat feature where several online devotionals you can listen to an audio recording of the scripture you are reading
http:/www.crcna.org/pages/family-altar.cfm
This site has all of Calvin’s commentaries
http://www.ccel.org/
http://www.reformationtheology.com/
Covenant Seminary including the ability to take 20 seminary classes for free
http://www.worldwideclassroom.com/
Our local seminary
http://www.rts.edu/
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Submitted by
Rudy Seiffer |
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