Ankle Sprain

Back to blogging!

Not that I'm super great at it or anything however things happen that make me laugh and cry so I thought I'd get back to putting it down for time and memorial.

Like the other day when I went for a run. It was a beautiful day. In fact, it was the perfect Fall day. Indiana is a great place to live during the changing of the seasons- when it's a nice day! (The rain and slush I can live without!) And this particular day was the nicest of all so I went for a run. My goal was 13 miles and would have made it had it not been for Old Yeller!

Country dogs are different than city dogs. City dogs are usually on a leash, a chain, behind a 12 ft. fence- not country dogs. They are free to roam, free to run and free to terrorize harmless running men like myself. The storyline is the same across America. Innocent runner enjoying a quiet run when out of the blue, Cujo, strikes fear into the heart of a runner who is already at an elevated heart-rate! Yeah, that dog nearly did me in! As I stopped to turn on him and strike him with my water bottle I rolled my ankle!

I hobbled across the road as Rin-Tin-Tin was called back to the farm by his owner and fell on my backside! Grabbing my ankle, I dialed my wife for a quick pick up....me! 5 1/2 miles from home and there was no way I was going to make it! As my wife was getting directions for my extraction, a Good Samaritan passed by and asked me if I needed a ride or first aid. I took the ride and was delivered back to the safety of my home.

There's probably a moral in the story somewhere....like stop running, fight like a man or carry pepper-spray. And I might just do that on my next adventure- carry pepper-spray that is! Until then.....

Have you seen any great church signs lately?
Here's a great one sent to me recently and it's
so true! Not only does it mess with thier heads
it has the power to release them from the debt
that imprisoned them. Jesus prayed the prayer of
forgiveness from the cross! As he was dying He
was releasing us from the debt of sin through
his amazing grace! Thank God for forgiveness!

Christmas Countdown!

Three days till Christmas morning! All the gifts are under the tree and the kids are home on Christmas break! It's snowing outside and life is good! Blessings to our family and friends this Christmas! We love and miss you all! I hope that you will join with your families and give glory to God for all of His blessings in 2009. See you 2010!

Breaking the first 100 miles!

Just a quick update about my new love for running. I broke the 100 mile barrier on Monday! I started running in August but only started keeping my "mileage" since October 1st. I use a running log at RunnersWorld.com to chart my weekly running totals and other data that is important for my training for the Mini-Marathon. It's a great tool to have at my disposal. It helps me stay on track and motivates me too.

I'm learning that there are many spiritual parallels to running and my faith journey with the Lord!
In fact, on Monday the weather was cold, windy and rainy! Not the ideal conditions to be outside. However, I ran anyway! I figured it's not about having perfect conditions or feeling like running that brings success but about running....period! I went on a 6 mile run...and loved it!

The bad weather reminded me that spiritual climates might not always be perfect but I'm called to keep serving and working for the Lord anyway in spite of feelings and changing conditions. Hebrews 12:1-4 encourages me to keep running in the race! I am surrounded by a stadium of witnesses. I am keeping my eyes on Jesus who ran the race before me and triumphed. I am getting rid of the extra baggage that would weigh me down. I am running to win!

Stay in the race!
PT

Who said jogging wasn't spiritual?

I've recently taken up a new sport. Jogging in the Spirit! A hybrid of prayer and exercise...you gotta love that. I've realized that prayer isn't limited to a closet or an altar....so I'm taking the wings of the Spirit to where the rubber meets the road! It's really been a great time out there on the open road with Jesus, listening to the I-POD and downloading God's presence as I fight to catch my next breath! Happy to say, that my longest run is logged in officially at the 8 mile marker! For those athletes out there who are laughing at me right now, I consider that a great accomplishment.

What I've learned so far from these prayer runs:
1. Look forward. Unfortunate trips or accidents usually happen when you're distracted and not paying attention to what lies ahead of you.

2. Warm up. A little stretching is good for you and helps make sure that you don't get sidelined with injuries.

3. Push through. When you want to quit, call a taxi and stop by DQ....DON'T. What you are doing is worth it. Persevere.

4. Slow down. You're not competing with anyone out there. Enjoy the scenery. Feel the blood pump through your heart and be glad that you're able to run at all.

Anyway, just felt like blogging about my jogging! Hope you're encouraged!
Catchya soon,
Tad

Reaching the University!

Last year I re=launched a XA group on the campus of Ball State University! XA (Chi Alpha) rocks! Although I'm the lead pastor of Rock Church, God has called me to the university to lead an incredible generation of young adults back into a right relationship w/ God through faith in Jesus Christ!

Today was "move-in" day! 20,000 students carrying everything they own into university dorms is a sight to behold and at times a little comical! :) I was able to assist an incoming freshman, Shaun, with his gear. We unloaded all of his stuff onto the curb, waved goodbye to his ride, and started carrying his clothes, frig, tennis racket, and computer into his spacious 12x15 dorm-room! I'm guessing at the dimensions! Not the biggest bachelor pad in human history but it will do for four years! :)

Watching all of those students move in, say goodbye to parents and try to assimilate into their new life on campus moved me to blog tonight before I fell asleep! I want you to pray for our XA group! We're small, we're just getting started but we have a vision, funds and some great people on our team! So I'm expecting great things! Will you pray for us! I need to know that you will stand in the gap on our behalf and pray for BSU!

We meet every Monday night at 6:30pm. We'll be developing a worship team this year, focusing on getting real with each other and with God, reaching out to the campus in tangible expressions of God's love and servant evangelism and building a spiritual community of rockin' Spirit-filled young adults that will impact their world and beyond! This is going to be an awesome school year!

Reach the U!
PT

Prayer Walking!

I love to walk! Actually, I'd rather ride a motorcycle but since that's not going to happen anytime soon I decided to prayer walk our city this morning.

After several miles of walking through the city streets my heart was broken! Our little town is a "picture perfect" village with well manicured lawns, clean streets, historic homes and material blessings however no matter what the "curb appeal" looks like on the outside the residents of our little town need an encounter with Jesus and the power of God!

Physical needs may not be easily assessed but there are deep spiritual and emotional needs in this city.

It's a hard place! People here are insulated! Insulated from God.

I've asked God to strip away that insulation and lay our hearts bare before Him. Expose our hearts to the living God. Expose our lives to the manifest presence of God. Break our hearts to weep over our sin, our worldliness and our living without God.

I believe that something is breaking in the heavenlies, right now!