Stride. I like to jog.  It makes me happy.  Jogging is nearly the most healthy all-body workout you can find.  On average a person burns just over 100 calories for every mile they jog.  Jogging has been known to reduce the risk of blood clots and heart attacks.  For me there is nothing better than having an extra 30 minutes in my afternoon.  In 30 minutes I can usually put in about 3 miles, warm up and cool down included.  My favorite aspect of running has little to do with miles, my heart or even calories.  I run for stride. 

When you find your stride you feel unstoppable.  When you find your stride you forget what time it is.  And when I find my stride, I don't want to stop running--EVER.  Stride is everything.  Sure you can jog and not find your stride, but its not the same.  God knows this too. 

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24

God's stride has a name: Righteousness.  You can be Christian and living a fithly life.  But, how much better and enjoyable it can be when you run in righteousness.  Happy trails!

Fulcrum.  Sometimes we look at the Christian walk as this harrowing, daunting, and complex array of restrictions, sacrifices and regulations.  You can't do this.  You must do that.  Don't forget to do that thing.  And on and on. 

I offer you a simple way of looking at your identity as a Christian:      

You are God's Fulcrum.  Consider God as that great Green arrow.  And consider the "Load" as anything in your life that is bringing you grief.  Yes, the "loads" in your life are heavy.  Yes, your days are filled with unrelenting stress, pain, betrayal and heartache.  But remember, as a Christian:

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped." Psalm 28:7

"Humble yourselves before the LORD and He will LIFT you up (stresses and all)." James 4:10

Stand firm in your faith and the LORD will use you.  God bless you, my Fulcrums in Christ! 

Not Good.  So, I'm trying to be more disciplined and everything nowadays.  This includes waking up at a decent hour EVERY day of the week.  Luckily enough for me I found a method.  Right down the street is parking that forces me to move my car at exactly 7am (otherwise it'll be towed).  The plan is at night I park my car and then in the morning I am forced to wake up by 7 to move it.  Not a bad plan if you ask me.   

Yesterday was the first day I got to try out my new method.  So, two nights ago I parked my car, walked to my apartment and fell asleep.  At exactly 7am the next day I woke up and went to move my car before the tow truck could do it for me.  It wasn't until I was about 100 feet away that I saw the spot where my car SHOULD have been.  Not Good. 

Naturally I FREAKED out and started crying.  Just joking.  I only cried for a little bit.  After the tears dried up I called 311 (non emergency dispatch) and found out that my car had--indeed--been towed.  Three hours, 10 miles and $160 dollars later I had my car back.  Praise God.

Moral of the story?  If you want a consistant method for waking up, buy a stupid alarm clock. 

YES!!!  Pardon the long wait.  It has been a crazy and awesome break thus far.  Let me just first say how awesome is Peace Pres’s youth group.   Man, you guys don’t even know! I brag about you guys all the time!  Just today, I was trying to explain to a friend of mine how much fun we’re going to have at the winter retreat, how funny our Christmas skits are going to be and how much I learn from you all every Sunday. 

Anywho.  Life in the city during the week is pretty cool, I really can’t complain.  I’ve been doing a lot of good reading and meeting up with some OLD friends (people I haven’t seen in years!  Isn’t that crazy?)  But, praise God because he allows me to continue friendships for such a long time. 

Cool, I’m out.  The place I’m using the computer at just turned off the lights (I guess they’re trying to tell me something).  Hey, have an awesome week guys and get EXCITED for the retreat!!!!

Eeeek!!!  Hey, word to the wise: when a professor gives you a writing assignment with three weeks to do it.  Don’t wait until three days before it’s due to start.  Just take it from me and avoid the pain!

You see, this whole “Oh, I’ll do it later” strategy was fine until I realized I had three professors give me three papers due in the same week; two 3 pagers, and one 10 pager.  EEK!  Check out Psalm 69, it about sums up my current state of affairs. 

Whad up with you all?  I sincerely pray you don’t have to deal with as much school work as I do.  Whats new?  Whats boring?  Any fun events going on that I could check out?  I’m going to be UBER free after thanksgiving, so if there are any games, shows, or whatever you all are up to these days, let me know—I WANNA HANG OUT WITH YOU GUYS!  I’m a nerd, I don’t have any college friends.  Remember we’re bff! 

Alright, enough of that.  Take care my A Z N brothas and sistas.