Road Trip Reflections

On March 18, 2011 I took a road trip back from Virginia.  I went there for a Young Life staff training time, which was really good. But then I tacked on a day to visit old friends in Lynchburg, VA.  I felt very blessed by the time there.  Here are a few thoughts on God's blessings in my life.

A Few Christmas Thoughts

I love this time of year, for all kinds of reasons, but mostly because of God's amazing gift of His Son.  The implications of God drawing near are life changing.  As I thought about Christmas this week, here are a few things that spoke to me.  Dec 2010.

God Story - Tug

A little while ago I got a Facebook message from a friend back in our West Point Young Life days, probably around 2000.  His name is Jeff, but we called him "Tugboat" or "Tug".  He was a real good guy; great sense of humor and a real interest in spiritual things.  He went through a tough time, but found God faithful.  Here's a bit of his story.  

God Story - Pascale

Robin and I have very good friends who volunteer for Young Life named Rob and Eileen Pascale.  They are sweet people who serve the Lord with gladness.  Their world was turned upside down a few months ago when their 14 year old son, Chris, was hit by a car and put in a coma.  They were told to prepare for the worst.  Watch how the Lord has been with them through this difficult situation.  They are still not out of the water, but Chris today (9/13/10) has made significant strides.  He is beginning to get some motor skills back, is just as sarcastic as he ever was, and can put down the food like nobody else.

God Story - Cardboard Testimonies

This summer's Young Life camp trip to Saranac was amazing.  Actually we ended up splitting out group and taking two consecutive trips to Saranac because we needed more spots.  There were several inspirational moments in those two weeks, but the day of the Cardboard Testimonies on the 2nd week was one of the better.  Here's my Vlog two hours after that special morning where 3 guys will never be the same; Nelson, Garrett, and Drew.

Wide-eyed Anticipation

(Committee Leader Fellowship Devotional)

What do you have wide-eyed anticipation about right now?  What will God do this year that will be worthy of writing about or remembered? What are our challenges?  The apostle Paul had the most amazing outlook on the future as he sat in a prison cell and pondered life.  

Philippians 1:20, "I eagerly expect everything [God] wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don't expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn't shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose."

Here's what "eagerly expect" means in the Greek - to gaze into the distance with the head outstretched just like a tower watchman, aiming one's attention at an object with concentration and intensity. It is turning the eyes away from everything else and focusing on one object alone.

As we sit here at the beginning of a new school year with the impossible task of reaching kids we also ponder.  What will God do this year?  What challenges will we face?  Paul went on to say in a later letter;

Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within you."

What a great encouragement!  Jim Rayburn, the  founder of Young Life, also had wide-eyed anticipation about life.

JIM RAYBURN QUOTES

“By far and away the greatest job in the world today is just to thumb through the pages of this New Testament, which was written to make Jesus Christ known, and to do it in the presence of a group of people who are listening, who know you care about them, and no beans about it; people that you’ve taken the time and the trouble to prove to that you really care.”

Near the end of Jim Rayburn’s life, he reflected, “I woke up with my bride one day in a town where there was a school full of people who didn’t have the foggiest chance to know the truth about Jesus Christ. They didn’t have a chance; there wasn’t anybody there that knew enough about Him to tell them.  And, furthermore, they weren’t interested in listening to anyone who sounded like someone who might be going to get around to talking about Jesus Christ.”

So let us declare, along with AB Simpson, to expect great things, keep our eyes on the Lord, and be faithful at every turn.  

AB SIMPSON QUOTE

“Let us expect results that we have never dared to claim before. Let us count every difficulty only a greater occasion for prayer.  Let us call on God who will show us many great and mighty things which we know not.  And let this be a day of joy and praise.  Let us live in the promises of God and the expectancy of His deliverance and blessing.  Let us never dwell on the trial, but always on the victory just ahead.  Let us not abide in the tomb but in the garden and light of the resurrection.  Let us keep our faces toward the rising sun.  Arise, shine, rejoice evermore.  In everything give thanks.” A.B. Simpson  

God Story - Roc

Back in January 2010 we too a trip to Lake Champion for the annual Young Life Winter Camp.  It was awesome, as always.  Two of my high school friends, Rocco and Luis (among others), felt a nudge in their hearts that weekend and gave their lives to Christ.  Here's a vlog briefly telling that story and a recent situation where Rocco found God faithful.