The Rush to Christmas

Doesn't it seem like our culture does the trick and treat thing around October 31st, then rushes on to Christmas? Whatever happened to Thanksgiving? With the rush to decorate and play Christmas music, we don't stop long enough to say "thanks." Even the biggest shopping day happens on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Maybe it's because we don't know how to say "thanks" anymore or we just take our blessings for granted. Ultimately we need to thank the Lord, for "He Himself gives to all life and breath..." (Acts 17:25) So on this last day of November, let's pause to say thanks. We can say thanks by offering the Lord the words of Psalm 100 - "Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations." Amen!!!

Renewal and refreshment

Just a quick note...Thursday morning, Pat and I travel to Nashville for the YFC National Convention along with Youth Specialties National Convention. This will be a great time for spiritual refreshment and renewal. I so look forward to the seminars and worship gatherings. In the pursuit of being a life long learner, I can't wait to be a "sponge" and take it all in. Pray for the Campus Life volunteers and student leaders as they continue the ministry while I'm gone. May you find ways to keep your love fresh and new with Jesus.
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

Who's Lost???

How do you share Jesus (another way of saying, "evangelism") with people? Most followers of Jesus get freaked out about telling others. Maybe that's the problem - we do to much talking and not enough listening. I'm moved by the music video of "Take You Back" by Jeremy Camp. It's a musical rendition of Luke 15 and the lost son. (In reality both sons are "lost.") In Luke 15, Jesus uses the word "lost." But in today's culture the idea of "lost" can signify superiority of the ones who are "found." Thus we need to be careful of the words we use. More than one sheep, one coin, or one son being lost, is the passion that is seen in the ones doing the searching. The "lost" were treasured! When something is treasured, you see great value in that item or person. This is what we need when sharing Jesus with others. The "lost" are treasured and are people that Jesus misses being with. With that in mind, evangelism isn't something memorized or forced on the "lost." This is critical when we who serve Jesus to young people through Campus Life. To share Jesus is to listen, pray for, eat with, be with, and yes, share what it means to connect with Jesus. But don't miss the big point - evangelism is simply caring for and loving your neighbor. So you probably are doing more "evangelism" than you realized! I think praying with people is more effective than preaching to people. It shows you care and people sense you "treasure" them. Well, what do you think? How do you share Jesus? What's scares you about sharing Jesus with others? How do you let people know that you treasure them?
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

Revolution

I'm currently reading Revolution by George Barna. George Barna is to the Christian world what Gallup is to the contemporary culture. His latest findings suggest that 20% of Jesus followers have abandoned the local church to be the Church with a capital "C." Here's the shocker...
Barna suggests that by 2025, 70% of real Jesus followers will not experience and express their faith through the local church. Instead, they will express faith through alternate faith based communities, family, and the arts. Wow! What do you think? It's difficult to know the future, but it seems if Barna's data is true, the local church is in for a makeover in the next 20 years.
Where do you primarily experience and express your faith in Christ? Where do you go to grow? I know my desire is to be a life longer learner - to love the Lord with all of my mind. I get a huge high from reading and digging deep into the Scriptures. Of course, my ministry with young people is through YFC. What about you???
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"