Going On a Gopher Hunt

Some time tonight, Pat and I will be traveling to Minnesota to see the Michigan Wolverines play the Minnesota Golden Gophers in football. It's one of our lifetime goals to see Michigan football at every Big Ten stadium. The game is set to kickoff on Saturday at 8:00 pm. Last year the Gophers upset the Wolverines and took the Little Brown Jug back to Minneapolis. This season we're going to help cheer on the Big Blue in a Gopher hunt. We want the Little Brown Jug to go back to Ann Arbor where it belongs. So as you OSU fans are watching the Bucks play at Iowa, think of us watching the Wolverines. I can't wait to get my ankles taped and to get pumped up for the game. Go Blue!!
These are the days my friend.
Jim "Train"

Lunch at Hunan Gardens

Tuesday, Pat and I ate lunch at Hunan Gardens in Lima. They have great lunch specials that can't be beat. Pat had broccoli chicken and I had hunan chicken (spicy of course!) After the meal, they give you your bill and fortune cookies. I cracked open my cookie and I read the fortune. It said, "The really great man is the man who makes everyone feel great." I thought, "How awesome is that!" To make everyone feel great should be the goal of everyone who follows Jesus. Some people just suck the life out of others. But we're called to make everyone- the lonely, the poor, the disabled, the weird, those on the outside looking in, and anyone - to feel great. Scripture tells us to "encourage one another, and build up one another..."
-1 Thessalonians 5:11. Life is tough. We need to help others to feel and be great. May you find the words to encourage all those around you. These are the days my friend!
Jim "Train"

Moved by Emelia

My friend, David Glick, showed me a animated DVD about a five year old Goth girl by the name of Emelia. Emelia was created by Derek Flood. As I was watching this short 9 minute animation, I was moved by the creativity found in the story. So many issues are brought up in this short film. I was moved! I especially loved the scene with light coming into Emelia's lfe by use of sunshine pouring through a 4 paned window which reminds you of the cross. Wow! I'm sure I'll be using Emelia to spark discussion at all the age levels of YFC ministry. So kids be ready to be moved! For more info, go to www.sharktacos.com
These are the days my friend!
Jim "Train"

Social Intelligence

An interesting article yesterday in USA Today called "Sociability: It's All In Your Mind." The article features an interview with Daniel Goleman who wrote a new book called "Social Intelligence." Goleman comments that the quality of our relationships is under assult in modern life. Technological forces represented by all the electronic gadgets found in a home draw each family member's attention to a solitary world and away from real connection with family members. This once again points out the need for belonging. People, especially kids, want to know they belong. Yet the very instruments we hook ourselves up to limit human interaction. We need to remind ourselves more often to pay attention to the human moment. Put down the cellphone, get away from the computer, take off the ipod. Pay attention to what's going on with people around you. Engage and interact with others. Goleman says to be "fully present" when you're with others. So may we make the time to be with others in a "fully present" mode.
I think I need to meet a friend over coffee without my cellphone being on. How about you?
These are the days my friend!
Jim "Train"

Go Blue!

Wow!! Saturday the Michigan Wolverines won a huge football game at Notre Dame by the score of 47 to 21. Check out www.mgoblue.com While it was exciting to see the Big Blue perform at such a high level last week, what will happen this week when they play Wisconsin? If you play your football games in the past, you are doomed to failure. It's like the saying goes, "What's the most important play? The next one!" So will the Maize and Blue be able to put aside what happened last week and show up to play great football this week?
This reminds me of our experience with Jesus Christ. All too often we live and depend upon our past experiences with Chrsit. But what about NOW? It's not about what Jesus did for us (or what we did for Jesus) 10 years ago or last week. What about today? Make sure your relationship with Jesus is being experienced at this very moment. "What's the most imporatnt day with Jesus? Today!" May you experience His presence, no matter what your life situation, right now. These are the days my friend!
Jim "Train"

Life After High School

If you're a teenager, how active are you in a church? How active are you in other Christian groups, like Campus Life? If you're in college or a twenty plus year old, how active are you in a church or other Christian groups? Has your involvement gone up or down? In the latest Barna research on twentysomethings, 61% of who were active in church/Christian groups in high school, disengage after graduation. See www.barna.org
It is this trend that prompts YFC to have a college age worship gathering called Connections. We pray that we can do our part in helping Jesus followers and those who aren't to experience spiritual life after high school. Connections will be held this Saturday at 7:32 pm. at the Bluffton Campus Life Room. Pray that we'll find life in Him.
These are the days my friend!
Jim "Train"

Post 9/11

I happen to think that 2 main truths are present in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on US of A soil.
First, that human beings are capable of committing terrible injustice and pain to other human beings. This is because all of us suffer from a dreaded disease known as sin. (Romans 3:23)
If not for the restraining power of famly, government, and religion, we all would do what was right in our own sight. People who follow Jesus also have the power of the Holy Spirit to help in the war against sin. Thank you Jesus for Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for such a sinner as I.
The second great truth is that people are capable of tremendous acts of love and courage to save people in need. Some people recognize the inherent value of human beings, created in the image of God. As His creation, people are worth saving, even at great personal loss. "There is no greater love than when one lays down his life for his friends." -John 15:13
9/11 prompts us to battle sin, both within ourselves and others. It's also a call to also have a heart that helps people in need. May you find victory in your 9/11.
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

9/11 Stories - World Trade Center

Pat and I watched World Trade Center at the Bluffton Theatre tonight. Director Oliver Stone did a great job of telling the true story of 5 PAPD officers who were trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center. 3 officers were killed and two others, Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin were buried alive. We see the heartache of families wondering if their loved ones were still alive. You meet the two Marines who continued to search for survivors at great peril to their own lives. Of course you wonder how police and firemen can rush into danger when all others are fleeing. What courage! This movie is a must see. It even has some great spiritual messages that evryone can benefit from. For more reviews, check out www.hollywoodjesus.com
See the movie in Bluffton while you can.
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

9/11 Stories Contined - The WC

In July 2002, 10 months after 9/11, four widows, Claudia Gerbasi, Patricia Carrington, Ann Haynes, and Julia Collins, none older than 40, met for the first time over dinner. The death of their husbands in the World Trade Center brought them together. They eventually formed a club that no one wanted to be in. They called it WC, short for Widows Club. They cried together, laughed together, celebrated each other's birthdays and went on vacations together. The WC continues to meet to this day. Two have remarried, one is engaged, and the other is"figuring out what to do next." After their first vacation together, Julia told the others, "Love you, mean it." This soon became their trademark saying with the message that, "Love is a gift. Share it."
Now the women have compiled a book by the title "Love You, Mean It."
Their story is one that reminds us of our role as the Body of Christ. We bear the burdens of others (Galatians 6:2) to help bring healing to hurting persons. We cry and laugh together (Romans 12:15). May you find followers of Jesus who will carry you through the rough and tough times of life. On good days, be a stretcher bearer for those in pain.
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

9/11 Prayer

A Celtic Prayer for remembering 9/11...

Let nothing disturb thee,
nothing affright thee;
all things are passing,
God never changeth!
Patient endurance attaineth to all things;
who God possesseth
in nothing is wanting;
alone God sufficeth.
+ In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen

These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

9/11 Stories Continued

Jason Thomas was dropping off his two month old daughter at his mom's house in Hampstead, N.Y., when she told him that the first tower had been hit. Immediately, Jason jumped into his car and put on his Marine uniform and raced to the World Trade Center. He helped an injured man onto a stretcher. He tried to help an older man with a head injury, but it was too late. Jason knelt by the man and said a prayer. Later on he ran into Marine David Karnes and the two of them began to look for survivors. From one pit they heard the voice of Will Jimeno. They stayed with him until he was lifted from the rubble. Exhausted, Jason left before John McLoughlin was rescued one hour later. For Jason Thomas, that was the end of the story. Later, he moved to Columbus Ohio were he works as a security officer for the Ohio Supreme Court. When the movie "World Trade Center" came out, it showed two Marines who helped rescue the two trapped police officers. No one knew that one of the men was Jason Thomas. In fact, in the movie, a white man plays Jason, who is black. But an aunt told Jason to reveal that he was the mystery Marine who helped in the rescue. When asked why he never took credit for what he did, Jason simply said, "I was just there to help." When asked who should have played him in the movie, he said, "I wouldn't want anyone to play me but me."
What valuable insights we can gain from Jason. When you see a need, do all you can to meet the need. As you meet the need, don't rush to take credit. In fact, if you follow Jesus, give Him all the glory. Just be you and do what the Lord allows you to do. Thanks Jason for caring and your display of humility. These are the days my friend!
Jim "Train"

9/11 Stories

Monday marks the 5th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack on USA soil. What follows are stories that help us to grasp what's important in life. Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin were the last two people rescued from the rubble of the World Trade Center. Their story is the focus of the movie currently being shown in Bluffton - "The World Trade Center." Will was a New York Port Authority Police (PAPD) officer. A team of five PAPD officers, which included will, went into Building 5. Upon entering, the South Tower collapsed immediately killing two men and trapping the other three. Another officer was killed when a concrete slab fell on him This left Will and John pinned beneath the rubble. The next 10 hours were filled with smoke and fire that set off the ammunition in the guns of the dead PAPD officers. In the darkest moments, when the thirst and pain became almost unbearbable, Will had a vision of Jesus. Jesus was holding a bottle of water. That vision gave Will the hope and optimism needed to fight for survival. At 8 pm. the men heard the voice: "U. S. Marines! Can anybody hear us?" 3 hours later Will and John were rescued. Here's what Will said, "Even if you live to be 90, that's only a little over 32,000 days to live. It's not that many. You have to do good and right with the small period you have in between." This reminds me of the Bible verse found in James 4:14 where it says life is like a vapor, or a mist or fog. Life is precious and needs to be lived carefully for no one knows when their life will end. So know why you are here. Live out the purposes Jesus has laid out before you. Live life in Him. This is one of the great reasons to follow Jesus. He gives life and sets a course before you. It's not how long you live, it's how you live the days you have. These are the days my friend!
Jim "Train"
Next- the Marine who rushed in to help. An untold story just discovered weeks ago.

Unlikely Heroes

Our Campus Life Club theme this school year is "Unlikely Heroes." Just think of it, every person used by God was imperfect, except The One. Some were even teenagers, like Jeremiah and Mary, the mother of Jesus. God chose "unlikely" people to be His "heroes." When you think of a hero, what comes to mind? Courage? Persistence? Strength? Other focused? When you think of a hero, who comes to mind? A teacher? A parent? A coach? Most heroes don't have supernatural abilities, but those who know Chrsit have His supernatural power. So look today for ways that you can be an unlikely hero. Help a friend with homework. Say a positive word. Pick up trash around the school. Tell your story while listening to your friend's story. Then share how Jesus story fits into both of your stories. God uses the most unlikely people to be His heroes. Be a hero today. You have His power in Christ.
Theses are the days my friend!
Jim "Train"