Personal Inconvenience

"Let brotherly love continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."  

Hebrews 13:1-2 (ESV)

Yesterday, I was blessed with safe travels from Storm Lake to Sac City Iowa.

During my 28-mile run, I wrestled with a lot of thoughts.

I called one of my mentors:

I shared about how my originally scheduled host home had fallen through 3 days before I was to head to Sac City Iowa.

I shared about how I scrambled for a host home and finally found one the evening before I left.

I shared about how frustrating it was to try and line up a week-long host home.  I thought it would be easy, an opportunity for people to open their home to me, a stranger.  I thought it would be easy for the Christian community to welcome me in.  I profess Jesus' name, and I thought others who profess Jesus' name would be all over the idea of hosting me.  That wasn't the case.

We talked about the idea of "Personal Inconvenience."  How people will give money & say prayers, rather than welcoming a "stranger" in.

One of many potential host homes I contacted asked, "Why isn't the church helping you find a host home?"  

I wanted to respond "You are the church and you have a home where I could stay."

I was even more flustered when they suggested "You could stay in the hotel."

Is this what Christians do?  When inconvenienced by a stranger, to say "I'll pray for you and send them to a hotel?

Or

Are we called to open our homes & our lives to strangers?

I believe this is one of the reasons why many people who grow up in the church, turn from their roots, 'cause the Jesus they hear about in scripture, is not the Jesus acted out in their faith community.

I realize opening up a home to a stranger is inconvenient.
I realize opening up a home to a stranger for a week is inconvenient.
I realize opening up a home to a stranger for a week with 3 days notice is inconvenient.

But what if we believed that personal inconvenience is good for us?

Maybe it's like a tension, or a pruning.

When it happens, the results often allow us to grow deeper in our faith.

For people who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, lets start reclaiming Personal Inconveniences.  To see them as opportunities for the unknown.  To see them as opportunities for growth.  To see them as opportunities for God's hand to work in our life.

These are the thoughts I wrestled with while running on Monday.


What are your thoughts about the topic?

Running Recap #7 - Sac City

Start Time :  10am  End Time : 440pm

Weather : 20-25 degrees.  NNW winds.  

Number of Dogs who barked and chased me:  3

Total Mileage : 27.8 miles

NEXT RUN will be on Monday to Fort Dodge Iowa.  About 50 miles.

COOL STORY FROM THE RUN:  Got to chat with a couple of guy's named James.  3 James' standing and chatting.  Pretty neat.  

Storm Lake end of week wrap up

LAST week's blog post

Help Lighten Jim's load, buy a shirt

AMS end of week wrap up - Storm Lake Iowa

Help lighten my load... BUY an AMS t-shirt

Storm Lake Running Recap

AMS for kids

Blog Post from earlier this week ::: "Home"

Random Pics from the week (Click Pic below)

AMS for kids - Week 6 - Storm Lake, Iowa

This week I'm in Storm Lake Iowa

A cool pic from the week

The Chapel on the Buena Vista Campus

Last week's AMS for kids HERE 

Home is where the heart is

Drinking a cup of coffee at Toad's w/ Trisket

During my stay in Spencer Iowa, I was able to frequent Toad's Coffee Shop, one of my favorite coffee shops.  Unique, has character, freshly-roasted-coffee and the people are grand.  

A freshly made Americano.  The foam on top is a result of fresh espresso shots. 

They slow roast their own coffee beans.

Coffee Roaster in progress.  It was a pleasure writing for a day next to this machine roasting coffee

Espresso coffee with whipped cream on top, delicious!!!

Early on in my stay in Spencer, I asked the owner of Toad's Coffee for an opportunity to share stories and have others play music at their establishment.   Of course, they agreed and moved some furniture around to accommodate.  


On Friday evening, people showed up: some friends and some local community members.  Some played music, others read poetry and some shared stories.  

Mark, Margareta and Zach playing music

The stories I shared were based around some topics I was contemplating & wrestling with: the questions of "What is home?  What makes a home?  Where is home?"


You see, being on the road for six weeks and knowing I will continue for many more, this topic has been heavily on my mind.  


Here is a 20 minute video of the stories I shared from my different "Homes," and my conclusion to the questions asked.  Enjoy, and feel free to comment on this post with your own response to the aforementioned questions.

Running Recap from Monday - Spencer to Storm Lake

Last week's Blog Post ::: "Thankfulness"

Running Recap #6 - Storm Lake

Start Time :  730am  End Time : 300pm

Weather : 30 degrees.  SE winds.  

Number of Dogs who barked and chased me:  1

Total Mileage : 26 miles (was scheduled to run 40... bad weather)

Left Spencer early this morning.  I was aware that the weather was going to be rainy and windy.  Wasn't expecting it till later, but I started getting poured on after my stop in Sioux Rapids (20 miles into my run).  Had several things going against me today: the wind coming from the South, no shoulder on Highway 71 to run on, the rain/slush and extra weight of T-shirts I'm selling along the way.

I was about 6 miles past Sioux Rapids, and I had just passed Rembrandt Iowa, and the wind and rain was fierce.  Was wearing my waterproof gear and it was soaked.  I had already changed once.  I remember wanting to stop, and usually when I want to stop pushing my cart, it means that I haven't eaten enough food.  So, I stopped and ate some food, and came to the realization that the conditions I was running in weren't safe.

I stopped on the side of the highway and found shelter behind my cart.  Took off my rain drenched gloves, and the wind didn't help make them any warmer.  Called my emergency contact, and asked them to come pick me up.  As I was on the phone, the Sheriff stopped by.  He let me sit in his car.  We had some great conversation.  

I look back on today, and am glad I stopped.  Once again, I am reminded that this trip isn't about putting myself in danger, but rather being smart so I can continue the journey I am on.

click HERE for some pics from the run today

NEXT RUN will be next Monday.  I will be running from Storm Lake to Sac City.   

Cool story from my run today:  Even though the weather was terribly today, I was encouraged greatly by the kindness of the Sheriff I was able to interact at the end of my run.  One funny thing from the day, several people called in to the Sheriff saying "There is a lady pushing a baby down the highway."  It made me chuckle.

Last week's end of week wrap up

Last week's blog post

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