Running while sober? Preaching with chains.

I am always amazed by the things you see while running...there's the usual...road kill, beer bottles and more cigarette butts than you can count. Every once in a while you run you come across something unique...the credit card sitting in the middle of a parkway, the coyote in the middle of the city and the guy who was trying to help me avoid a RWI (running while intoxicated). During my run Friday night I came across a cyclist that motioned for me to slow down...not that I run that fast, but apparently he had something he needed to share...danger up ahead?...little Jimmy fell in the well?...with a serious face he warns me, "hey man, watch out, the cops have a sobriety check point ahead!". REALY?? Boy was I glad I got the heads up on that one!!

Church today was awesome. Talked about how Peter viewed his imprisonment as an opportunity to expand God's kingdom. His chains were not an obstacle, but instead they were an opportunity to evangelize to the guards. And sure enough...Roman soldiers helped to spread the message of Christ as they traveled throughout the Roman Empire. So what "chains" do we have that God can use?

1st Post

There is just so much going on in my life, so the logical thing to do is to share it with the world!  The blog is called "I run by faith."  Simple explanation...for about 2 years I have been running.  3 half marathons, 1 10-k, and a few 5-k's.  I may not be too much faster than an 80 year old lady on a scooter, but I find running to be very relaxing...in a painful sort of way.  The faith part...well, I'm a deacon in a Lutheran church and I am in the process of becoming a pastor.  So, in addition to work, family and everyday stress, I wonder if I can survive 26.2 miles and I wonder why God can't find someone who isn't as messed up as me to be a pastor...there must be 100 guys more suited to the task...just in my neighborhood!! 

So, that's it...this blog will be about my runs...the pains, blisters and struggles of the road...and the struggles of writing sermons every week,  caring for the people who put up with me every Sunday, and trying to find a way of writing a 3 page autobiography for seminary without sounding cheesy.