Warning:
This post will border on the mundane and have a journal-ish feel to it. Since that type of daily documentation is not a discipline I’m able to maintain, I’ve decided to occasionally throw a dose of it into the mix here. Chances are good that I’ll inadvertently touch on those themes of campus, coffee, and faith as well.
Running:
Many have commented on my apparent passion and devotion to physical activity. Of late, running is my thing. Though I often throw in a bike ride or a P90X workout, lacing up and conquering about 5 or 8 miles of pavement/trail is what pushes me these days. I ran my first marathon in Columbus, OH back in the Fall of 2008. Over the past few months, I’ve run marathons in Atlanta, Louisville, Green Bay, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. This coming November I’ll run my 10th marathon in 7 different states. Qualifying for the Boston Marathon is the current dream-accomplishment which motivates me to keep carving out space and time in my schedule. Originally, I had hoped to qualify for the 2011 running of the famous Boston event, but that dream is drifting away from me at this point. Staying motivated is going to be a real test of will over the next few weeks. Will I push to keep that dream alive or just settle for a decent finishing time in Indianapolis on November 6th? Whether or not I’m able to qualify for Boston this time around, I do hope to set a new PR of 3:45 or better.
Campus Ministry:
This is my second year at the University of Cincinnati. Working cooperatively with the CCO and the Church of the Nazarene has provided a tremendous opportunity for me to invest in the lives of college students in and around Cincinnati. 
The Edge House has provided a unique context for me to engage students and share some serious hospitality. We are three days into “Welcome Week” and what some campus ministers have said is that if you’re not totally exhausted by the end of this week, then you’re not doing it right! Ha, ha…I’m exhausted and the week is only half over. We’ll see if I can translate some of that marathon endurance into ministry and relational endurance.
Parenthood:
Honestly, my greatest challenge at the moment has to do with my two beautiful girls…Jess & Jaquey. As Jessica begins 6th grade and transitions towards those teen years and junior, I am noticing the need to shift into some new parenting gears. More than ever, she needs a dad loves and listens well. My first reaction, when it comes to conflict, is to flex those paternal muscle fibers and “fix” the problems. Something tells me that’s not the best approach any more (perhaps it never was). For some reason, my relationship with Jaquey seems to come a bit easier. She’s definitely daddy’s little girl and for the moment (at age 7) seems content with our relational patterns. And with a baby boy on the way, things probably won’t get much easier for awhile. 
Spiritually Speaking:
First of all, I’ll point out (in case you haven’t already noticed this from previous posts) that I agree with the statement “Everything is spiritual.” So this last paragraph is not ‘spiritual’ and the rest of the post is ‘non-spiritual.’ But I’ll wrap up by just saying a few things about my journey in the faith (spiritual formation) and towards becoming more like Christ (sanctification). Being formed and shaped by God’s Word within the context of community takes some serious intentionality. The summer has really been tough in terms of “religious” routine. I’m looking forward to the daily discipline and practices, which much like a marathon training plan, will lead to a healthier soul.
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