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Jonathan Barber's Testimony |
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Saturday, 01 April 2006 00:13 |
 Jonathan has always been involved in competitive sports. In his early high school days he was a competitive swimmer, and represented his local province at age 16. Still, even then he knew he was not going to be world class as a swimmer. He started to explore his talent as a runner. By 18 he was as good a runner as he was a swimmer, posting some good times on the road and track. But it was plain to see he was not world class at that either. Jonathan is very competitive and because he had chosen to make a living competing he kept looking for something he could really excel at. Then in 1985 he heard of an event called a Triathlon.
Jonathan became South Africa’s top junior triathlete way back in 1986. He has subsequently competed in over 140 triathlons and has won 69 of those. He has been racing as a Professional for 11 of the past 18 years he has traveled the world competing in triathlons of various lengths. He also competes in cycling, open water swimming and running races and various other multisport endurance events. He continues to compete at the professional level, even at the ripe old age of 36, and has a busy year of racing planned for 2004. “ I am not the fastest out there by any means but dedication and hard work are still worth something!” he admits. Jonathan is a committed Christian, and recognizes that God has been good to him. He is thankful for the many blessings he has received and he strives to honor God in all he does. His wife, Stephanie, is also an avid triathlete and they often train and race together. It’s a perfect arrangement except after a 7 hour training ride when neither of them have the energy to cook dinner! Jonathan and Stephanie currently live and train in Kona, Hawaii, home of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship. They have 3 very well traveled cats. I can still remember the picture. I was on one side. God was on the other side. There was a big valley between us. My Sunday school teacher turned the page and in the next picture there was a ladder spanning the valley. The message was simple, I was bad, God was good, and Jesus Christ provided the way for me to reach the other side. I understood, accepted and believed, and asked Jesus to be my Savior. I was five. ";"Things got a bit more complicated as the years went by, as they tend to do. We as Christians have a God-given potential for greatness but as humans we have an incredible capacity for disaster. God, however, remains true and faithful through it all. Thirty something years later I am still a believer. I find I have a much deeper understanding of who God is and who I am in relation to Him. I have a better understanding of all He has done for me. My faith in Him is stronger because of all He has shown me. It’s been a long road and I’m sure it has taken me a lot longer than most to come as far as I have. I have proved to be a slow learner and easily distracted. But this I now know, this I can say with certainty …. without God I am nothing and without His mercy, love and guidance I would be totally lost. In one sense I had “arrived” when I was five, but being a Christian is a life-long growth process. I strive to please God in all I do and use my time and talents in a way that would glorify Him. I dare not look back. I must not be unfaithful. God has done too much and brought me too far. God is good. Put your trust in Him and He will make your path straight.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 01 April 2006 02:19 |
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