shalom kazoo

09/08/2025

WE DID IT! The LORD, YOU and ME! TEAM SHALOM!

Every indication is, Lord willing, I will be running the Boston Marathon this coming April! We are doing this to raise awareness and raise funds for new furnishings in a coming new SHALOM home!

My goal time for yesterday’s Holland Haven Marathon was 4:13 (4 hours, 13 minutes). I felt confident that would make the Boston cut for my age group. Between all your prayers, encouragement, support and the Lord’s response, I was able to run 4:08:58! I will apply to Boston today but will not hear confirmation until early October. Hurry up and wait! Stay tuned!

I still cannot believe that race time. It was the race of a lifetime for me in many ways. So many people sent texts via the RaceJoy app. That was so cool. It was so encouraging to hear cheers and verses and blessings and prayers as I ran! My body is experiencing “joyful soreness” today. Wow. I admit it was very hard to maintain pace when the body was screaming at me to slow down! That’s where the courage comes in and having a bigger picture than comfort in view. “For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross.”

Endurance is a big deal in life. It takes courage and a decision of the will, combined with God’s power and help from others. Some pain in life is chronic, never ending. In Christ it results in the “joyful soreness” we call our testimony and God’s presence. Have you shared in His suffering?

I will keep you all updated once I hear back from Boston. Then we will begin to unfold the need for furnishings in the new SHALOM home and determine what to do! Thank you for your constant support of SHALOM!

The pics are in celebration of TEAM SHALOM and making it this far. Many in my family were there to cheer me on and gather in celebration!

09/07/2025

Under 4:09!!!

09/06/2025

I am so excited and nervous about this marathon tomorrow! So, I cleaned the toilet. But the marathon is still THERE! Ahhh!

The route goes past my brother’s house! At mile 20! That’s the beginning of the end!

I’ll be leaving the house at 4:30 am tomorrow and catching a shuttle at 6:00 am from the finish line in Holland to the start in Grand Haven. Start is 7:30 sharp! I thank the Lord for great weather, starting around 51 degrees, finishing around 61 degrees! Perfect!

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
“Lord, thank you for this opportunity! I run for You, With You, and For SHALOM where future residents can rest in their new home! I am injury free and filled with hope! Be my wind and my courage. Be my strength and purpose! Only You can get us to Boston! I pray you will encourage us ALL as we journey together. The results are Yours and I will be content. For You, Jesus! Amen.

The pic is the route! GO TEAM SHALOM!
In order to raise awareness and funds for furnishings for a new SHALOM home, my goal is to qualify to run the Boston Marathon, April 21, 2026. I invite you on this journey with me!

09/02/2025

“Why not Boston?” I secretly wrote in my running journal in September 2022.

Why not? Because I had not yet run my first marathon - that’s why not! But in March of 2024 I went public with my one-item bucket list wish, “I hope to run the Boston in 2026.” Why not? Because I had not yet run my first marathon…

Now on September 7, I will run my third “why not,” the Holland-Haven Marathon, to hopefully better my time and assure my place at the Boston start line. The very next day begins the five-day Boston Marathon entry window, and I will send in my application and best time! I will likely not hear back until early October.

The Boston Marathon is a fund raiser for “new home furnishings” in a coming new SHALOM home to be built! SO, I sort of must get in! Why not?

Will you partner with me on the way to Boston?

You can do that by praying for me in this third qualifying marathon! Follow my race in real time by getting the “RaceJoy” app on your phone, scrolling to Michigan, to Holland-Haven Marathon, and to Keith Lohman (bib #229). You can send cheers and texts as I run, which I will hear! And you can partner with me by considering a donation for a chair, a bed, a refrigerator, a table, or any amount you are able! Why not?

The race begins this Sunday, 9-7-25, at 7:30 am. My goal is to run from Grand Haven to Holland in 4 hours and 13 minutes. Yikes! Why not?

Please pray for courage when it is hard, for joy to run easy, and for the Lord Jesus to be glorified in every step as I bring Him gratitude, honor and praise!

The pic: A Boston Marathoner friend loaned me his book.
My wife bought me the shirt…

08/29/2025

The Connection Depot thrift store, donation area, and Shalom Coffee Connection will all be CLOSED this Friday & Saturday in observance of Labor Day Weekend. See you next week!

08/28/2025

🤠SHALOM Woolery's Special Spotlight!😎
💝Here is our most dapper participant! He loves to get gussied up, adorn his outfits with garnishes and rock all types of flashy styles. He is a jokester making friends around him giggle. He definitely brings merriment to our day!💝

08/27/2025

💙❤️Join us as we celebrate, Ruth Bacon, our next Dear Volunteer!!!❤️💙

08/26/2025

In order to raise awareness and funds for furnishings for a new SHALOM home, my goal is to qualify to run the Boston Marathon, April 21, 2026. I invite you on this journey with me!
A friend just reminded me of 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” I am pondering how to run for God’s glory…
To do something for God's glory means (at least) to do it honoring God, giving Him credit and praise, reflecting His character and nature. Otherwise, we do it for our own glory and personal interest.
Giving God glory involves aligning my actions with God's purpose, showing gratitude, loving Him with my all my heart, soul, strength and mind, and worshipping Him in all I do. The movie, “Remember the Goal” helps me live into 1 Corinthians 10:31. I intend to run that verse on September 7.
Twelve days and counting to the Holland-Haven Marathon! I have run 471 training miles in three months, almost 5.25 average miles per day! Long runs were 16 miles and 18 miles several times. But as I taper down the training miles, I am ramping up my prayer miles. I am convinced the key is to run with God, giving Him the gratitude and honor and praise.
Please partner with me in prayers of thanksgiving for SHALOM and God’s provision to build a new home in the near future, and for running injury free! Please ask for a joyful spirit in the race itself as I run to get into the Boston Marathon next April, for courage in the last 6 (hard) miles, and to finish all 26.2 for His glory!
The running pic is at a recent 10k race, getting my “fast” muscles in line for the marathon! The posed pic is with Nick Willis, a world class 1500m Olympic runner (5 Olympics, 1 bronze, 1 silver) and current world record holder in consecutive years (20) with official 1 mile race times under 4 minutes! Nick wishes us the best in our coming marathon success!

08/21/2025

This weekend ONLY... $5 Bag Sale! Fill a bag with anything you can wear from head to toe (excluding jewelry). Last chance to shop before we are closed for Labor Day Weekend.

08/19/2025

Farm Days is coming up soon! Spread the word.

08/18/2025