If you have not seen the movie, Rudy, you’ve missed a pretty good film. Well, I was just sent another real-life Rudy story that I just had to post! Be prepared to tear up a little bit with this great story!
Oh, I have so many spiritual analogies I want to point out right here, but instead, I’ll let it be… for now.
Hope you enjoyed it!
Grace,
Brian
A Call To Christians…
Pretty exciting stuff happening in the lives of believers here, at least this is what I am sensing. I’m so hopeful that we will continue to see believers step up in their pursuit of sharing Christ with those who do not know Jesus as Lord. For too long we have thought that missions means “over there.” The way I read Acts 1:8 is that “mission” means “everywhere” (our immediate area, those that are different within our area, just outside our immediate area and then all across the land–that’s my interpretation of “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth).
Greg Stier (President of Dare 2 Share) and I just exchanged a couple emails along these lines and I am happy to see he commented on my last post. I did the same on his blog (gregstier.org) under a post by Greg. Go check it out and comment on his blog here.
If you don’t feel a heart for the unsaved, if you don’t sense a calling to your neighborhood/coffee shop/school/workplace, if you’re not moved to share your faith with those who don’t know Jesus, then I will say something quite bold–You may not know Jesus. Please don’t just blow over those words, read them, contemplate them, take them before the Lord and consider.
I’m proud to read some the emails and FB messages a number of you have given me along the lines of your “relaunch” into your mission field (campus, club and community). Keep it up for His glory! Prayer, care and share!
The more you pray for the lost, the more you care for them and the more you want to share with them. Start with prayer. Witness what Jesus did with His message and how He got it out (by word & deed, not just deed). Look at the Apostles, see how Peter was the first to step out in faith after Jesus ascended in Acts 1. In Acts 2, 3, 4, etc. we see the Disciples begin to actively share (in word and deed, not just deed) Here we are 2000 years later–it’s time for every Believer to “step up” and pray, care and share.
Amen?
Amen!
Grace,
Brian
Yep, that’s right, going right at the core of Christianity with this one. Or at least what I think is at the core.
IYHO (for those out of the texting generation: In Your Humble Opinion), why aren’t Christians more active in sharing their faith with words?
Very open ended question, one that might cause offense, defense or neutrality. One that in answering may cause you to reflect and face your own strengths, weakness or hypocrisy. But I’m throwing it out there for discussion. Statistics say that the average American Christian will not ever share (with words) his/her faith in an effort to have that person know and receive the Love of Christ. Why do you think this is the case?
I will eventually get around to answering these questions I am posting, but for now, I’m going to pose a few more.
Don’t hesitate to go back to my previous post and think through any of the answers you may have for those questions as well. I appreciate the couple answers I have gotten already (I had a couple people email me rather than posting their thoughts under “comments”).
Appreciate anyone willing to risk in answering these questions. Once again, don’t use names in negative examples (unless you’re talking about yourself and want to share a personal life-lesson). Thanks!
Grace,
Brian
I have had a number of conversations lately in regard to the way Youth Ministry IS and/or IS NOT working. There are many advocates for house church, small group driven church, large programmatic churches, etc. These philosophies and strategies possibly then dictate the way a church can provide for the youth of a church as well.
The most common church model, and the one I deal with the most with churches we relate with through Youthmark have a model that looks a little like this (this is simplified of course):
Sunday Morning: Traditional Sunday School. Announcements, worship and talk (in many ways, church of students).
Mid-Week: A Youth Group with games, announcements, worship and talk (Bible message/topical or study), often followed by small groups. (Some churches do a third “program” event by providing small groups on another night of the week).
Outreach Events: Once a month or so churches host some sort of event for the churched kids to bring their unsaved friends.
Youth Pastor: Many churches have a paid Youth Pastor. Most Youth Pastors/Directors I deal with have a volunteer team that he/she is directing. Most Youth Pastors struggle with getting enough on their team to help “disciple” the teens (I use quotes because sometimes the YP is simply looking for help, leaders to be there, not necessarily to disciple.).
I have my own thoughts and opinions, and because this is my blog, I will share them… eventually. But for now I am soliciting your feedback.
Some of this stuff could be sensitive materials, please be careful when using names (please don’t use any in negative examples).
This information is helpful to me as I come alongside other YP’s who are really thinking through the things that they do in ministry. I count it a privilege that I get to network with so many and we love sharing stories, examples and opinions!
Grace,
Brian
The Goal: 210
Memorial Day (start): 236
Labor Day (goal date): 209
Grace,
Brian
So, yesterday I posted a funny prank that some comedy show pulled on a bunch of unsuspecting folk. A great idea, funny stuff. Yes, I have some great pranks I have had pulled on me and that I/we have pulled on others. A recent one I may even post about soon. However, I eluded to a similar bathroom one yesterday. Here’s the rest of that story.
Some of you know a former student of mine, we’ll call him “Eric,” because, that is his actual name (no protecting the victims here). When Elisabeth and I accepted a call to move from Seattle to Phoenix, a few of our students came over and were so gracious in helping us prepare to move (doing general packing, clean-up, etc.). Well, Eric was relatively new to our group and going into his freshman year when we were moving on. How cool was it that a young guy like this would be so giving? Very cool, thanks Eric!
As our day progressed his older brother, we’ll call him “Byron” (yep, that’s him), had to leave, Eric volunteered to keep helping and another student, whom Eric had just met, “Michael” said he would take Eric under his wing (and figure out how to get Eric home).
We fast forward.
Mike ends up taking Eric over to Mike’s house before transporting Eric home. As soon as they get to Mike’s (then vacated) house, Eric asks to use the restroom. Well, this was a five-plus-minute restroom break, not the garden variety one minute break. So, while Eric is using the downstairs, just-off-the-family-room, bathroom, Mike goes upstairs to attend to some business. Meanwhile, back down stairs all of Mike’s family comes home and makes themselves comfortable in the family room (next to said bathroom, with said stranger–“Eric” inside).
What would you do?
Keep in mind, Eric is new.
The family has never met Eric.
Yet, he is in their restroom with the family assuming NOBODY is home.
What do you do if you’re Eric and you hear all the noise of strange voices inside the family room?
What do you do if you’re the family and a strange 14-year old kid walks out?
Eric did eventually come back out, several minutes later. He introduced himself to the family (who still to this day must be wondering why he was in there for so long?).
Oh, the awkwardness. I love it.
On a different, yet similar note: I can’t wait for The Office to come back on, its situations like this that make that show a huge success!
Grace,
Brian
Here’s a great prank, partly because it reminds me of a friend of mine that had something like this really happen to him. Perhaps I’ll explain tomorrow. For now, just watch.
Grace,
Brian
She did it.
Grace,
Brian
P.S. If you don’t know what I am talking about, read my last post.
Will she take the challenge?
That’s right, I’m challenging my wife… since she has not blogged in quite some time, I am challenging her to take the next few posts of hers and do what I just did… she can even steal some of my subjects for her “Top 5” if she’d like.
I just know that most of her blogs have me laughing, and I would like some more laughter. So, there ya go Babe, consider yourself dared!
I love you.
Okay, now for the rest of you, click here to see if she does it!
Grace,
Brian
Today marks the completion of a week long series titled, “Top 5’s.” It’s been so much fun that I have decided to make it a regular post. So, starting this Tuesday I am going to do “Top 5 Tuesday.” I’ll do my best to remember to make a top 5 list each Tuesday.
As we conclude the week, I save the best for last, my top 5 places I have been to with my bride! This is going to be a very difficult list to complete because we’ve been to some pretty great places together and we have created quite the list of memories. Some of the places we have been to as a family (read: with kids) and others just as a couple. Instead of doing a pre and post kids individual lists, I’ve made it tougher on myself and had to create the master list!
So, without further ado, the list:
Honorable Mention: Jaipur, India; Disneyland; Flagstaff, AZ; Bed and Breakfast in Port Townsend; and several others I can’t think of right now!
Five: Sunriver, Oregon. This week we have spent in a very nice rental house in Sunriver, OR. My parents gave their three kids and their families this week at Sunriver with them. The house is a five bedroom house with a bonus room. Each couple has a master-mini-suite (except I’d call my parents room the master JUMBO suite). And then the cousins have the other room and a bonus gaming room to share. We’ve had a blast, good weather, great pools and biking and hiking trails galore! My brother brought his Wii, so this entertained for hours!
Four: Copenhagen, Denmark. Around Christmas and New Years in the year 2000 Elisabeth and I led a mission trip to an orphanage in Kota, India. Though the India trip itself is a honorable mention, we did have a nice 20-hour layover in Copenhagen on the way home. I wish we would have had several days there, but to have this time as a couple after a 10 day mission was amazing. The hotel was a cute little villa and we loved our dinner out at an American Diner (after the time in India I honestly felt this burger was one of my best ever). The “date” was concluded the next day when we got to our flight and we got upgrade to Business Class on our 10 hour flight home!
Three: Catalina Island, Avalon, CA. Because I was a Youth Pastor for so many years Elisabeth and I have had a hard time finding the opportunity to do a trip during our anniversary time (July 20). Camps, retreats and missions have prevented us from doing an extended trip, so we decided to do a pseudo-anniversary trip in February 2005 by taking a cruise. We did a quick four-night cruise which included a day at Catalina Island. There is a beauty of Catalina that literally feels like you’re in a different country. We loved our time on the island and my favorite memory was having coffee together off the beaten path at this little cafe at the top of a hill.
Two: Salish Lodge, Snoqualmie Falls. For Elisabeth’s 30th birthday I surprised her with a sweet deal at the Salish Lodge. I couldn’t believe the Internet special I scored which included our night at the lodge, two massages, and a $30 credit at the restaurant. The November night had a perfect late fall, early winter feel. Each room has its own fireplace and a great sunken tub! What a great way to celebrate her 30th!
One: Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii. We have had the great privilege of being to the Marriott at Kaanapali Beach twice! When we wed in 1996 we spent an entire week at this haven! Then, several years later, with Halle, we got to go back when I was invited to speak at a camp on Maui. We extended our trip by booking a couple nights at the same hotel we had our honeymoon. I can’t wait to go back to this place sometime in the future! There’s something about having the pools, shopping, restaurants and the ocean (not to mention 85º weather) steps away from your beautiful ocean view room.
You have some “top places” you’ve been to? Any suggestions where I can take Elisabeth (and/or my family) to crack the top 5?
I look forward to Top 5 Tuesdays in the future!
Grace,
Brian
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