"RUNNING"

Brethren: 

 I had a AWESOME experience the other day. I received a copy of "Running beyond inspiration"

By Chaplain Tony Miano. In short it, is  a story of Chaplain Miano's experience running a footrace, in honor of a fellow Sheriffs officer struck down by ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) I HIGHLY recommend it! I was in tears throughout the book! When I was done it was time for my tri-weekly 3 mile run. I headed out on my oh so routine run, and as I was on the "home stretch"

I pass by my local park. On the park bench, I observed 4-5 people sitting around, some drinking beer. I ran pass, and "WHAM" I got that "GO WITNESS TO THOSE PEOPLE" quickening in my spirit. I continued on, trying to justify not witnessing, and as I got farther away from them, I was getting more and more convicted about not witnessing! This is the real interesting part... Each and every step I took, as I was being convicted in my spirit, I felt the sun getting hotter and hotter on my head?... It was the strangest thing, I like to run when its hot.. really! I have run in over 100 degree weather, but I never EVER had this kind of thing happen! Wow! I knew I could not leave the park without witnessing to those folk, so I found the first turn off to circle around and ran back to where they were sitting.

 As I approached them, I asked them "Starting on Halloween partying early huh?" they laughed and said "yep" I was wearing a NAVY shirt, and one of them asked me if I was in the navy, i told them I used to be, and one of the guys said he was too. I asked them if they new what NAVY stood for? I told them it stands for N ever A gain Volunteer Yourself, they laughed and I told them I was proud to have served in the Navy and that was a joke we used to use! I then told them that halloween was celebrating the dead, and we had a great conversation about halloween and death. I asked them where they thought we went after we died? I got some mixed answers, and then asked them where they thought THEY were going when they died? 

I told them that God called everyone everywhere to repent, for He has appointed a day when HE will judge the world in righteousness(acts 17:30,31) and that Jesus is to be our judge. I took them through the law, and the Gospel, and our need to Repent and place our trust for Salvation in Jesus Christ and Him alone. about half way through, the most vocal of guys left, mumbling something I didn't hear. As I was finishing up, I could see the conviction on a couple of them, and reminded them to repent and place their trust in Jesus Christ for their Salvation. I heard the one gal there,  say "Thanks Navy!" and as I continued my run (getting late for work) my head was swimming at that turn of events... WOW! My point of this post is to encourage you to get past your fears.. Listen to when the Holy Spirit is prompting you, and if you will follow Him, you never know how HE will use you, or, how you have ministered to others. Keep up the Good work of God.

Until the nets are full

Robert