Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

A New Year to Climb Higher
by Tom Goodman
December 31, 2008

At 85, legendary Fred Beckey is still planning ascents. His intensity should inspire us all, because we're all called upward.

The New York Times described Beckey as a legend in the mountaineering world. In seven decades, he's claimed more virgin ascents than any other living climber, and has ascended peaks deemed unclimbable by other experts. At 31, he scaled Mounts McKinley, Hunter, and Deborah in the Alaska Range in a single summer, and the feat became known as his Triple Crown. At 40, he logged 26 first ascents in a single year. He's put up new routes across Wyoming, Colorado, California, British Columbia, and Alaska.

Now 85, he's still looking for the next challenge. To complete his opus, he wants to chart new routes up Mount Monarch in the Coast Range, Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, and Mount Assiniboine in the Canadian Rockies.

As I said, his devotion should inspire us all, because we all have a climb to make. At Hillcrest, we call it out H.I.L.L. to crest:

Honor the Lord of Life
Invite Your World to Life
Love the Fellowship for Life
Live the Word in Life

Don't think of these as tasks we only do at church. This is the path for anyone who wants to know fulfillment. Wherever you are -- at work, at school, on vacation, in the hospital -- your job is to HONOR God's Name, INVITE others to God's Grace, LOVE God's People, and LIVE God's Word. That's the H.I.L.L. set before us.

As you turn the calendar page to 2009, make a fresh commitment to be a faithful climber. Your church exists to give you the training and encouragement to take the summit. While gaining the help you need, also look for others who could use inspiration from you as they make their own ascent.

In the Swiss Alps, there is an epitaph on a tombstone for a Swiss guide: "He died climbing." It looks like that's going to be the way people remember 85-year-old Fred Beckey. Make it true of you, too!

--Tom

Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored." Some things to look for...

Song of the Week, posted every Sunday.
Links to Your World, interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday.

Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them!

Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail.

FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.HillcrestAustin.org

LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here

MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.

Winning Ways - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
Manage Your Subscription -- Subscribe/Unsubscribe	Contact Us About Your Subscription
A New Year to Climb Higher by Tom Goodman December 31, 2008 At 85, legendary Fred Beckey is still planning ascents. His intensity should inspire us all, because we're all called upward. The New York Times described Beckey as a legend in the mountaineering world. In seven decades, he's claimed more virgin ascents than any other living climber, and has ascended peaks deemed unclimbable by other experts. At 31, he scaled Mounts McKinley, Hunter, and Deborah in the Alaska Range in a single summer, and the feat became known as his Triple Crown. At 40, he logged 26 first ascents in a single year. He's put up new routes across Wyoming, Colorado, California, British Columbia, and Alaska. Now 85, he's still looking for the next challenge. To complete his opus, he wants to chart new routes up Mount Monarch in the Coast Range, Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, and Mount Assiniboine in the Canadian Rockies. As I said, his devotion should inspire us all, because we all have a climb to make. At Hillcrest, we call it out H.I.L.L. to crest: Honor the Lord of Life Invite Your World to Life Love the Fellowship for Life Live the Word in Life Don't think of these as tasks we only do at church. This is the path for anyone who wants to know fulfillment. Wherever you are -- at work, at school, on vacation, in the hospital -- your job is to HONOR God's Name, INVITE others to God's Grace, LOVE God's People, and LIVE God's Word. That's the H.I.L.L. set before us. As you turn the calendar page to 2009, make a fresh commitment to be a faithful climber. Your church exists to give you the training and encouragement to take the summit. While gaining the help you need, also look for others who could use inspiration from you as they make their own ascent. In the Swiss Alps, there is an epitaph on a tombstone for a Swiss guide: "He died climbing." It looks like that's going to be the way people remember 85-year-old Fred Beckey. Make it true of you, too! --Tom Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored." Some things to look for... Song of the Week, posted every Sunday. Links to Your World, interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.HillcrestAustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.