When did we turn into wimps? Take a quick jaunt through the New Testament and you'll see a different breed of believer. Most Christians then weren't so much worried about what others thought about them as they were with God's evaluation. Their burning desire was to make him happy. If that meant sharing the gospel in hostile environments to angry crowds-no problem! If that led to death, dismemberment or displacement-then so be it!

A lot has changed in 2,000 years.

I'm convinced that the early Christians would be PO'd at the PC culture today in Christianity, especially youth ministry. We are losing our battle because we have lost our bite. We are more concerned about being user friendly then we are about the salvation of souls.

Since when do we have to beat around the bush when it comes to our faith? Since when do we have to “earn the right to be heard”? Isn't that what Jesus did when he died on the cross, rose from the dead and commissioned us from the mountain? If I recall he didn't say, “Go into all the world, build deep relationships, live your life out loud, then, when the watching world is so in awe of your godly life that they fall to their knees and say, 'What is so different about your life? I want what you have! Tell me! Tell me! For crying out loud tell me!' then, and only then, preach the gospel.”

We need to share it just like the early Christians did. When Peter stood up in the temple in Acts 2 he had no relationship with the crowd, but he shared the gospel and thousands came to Christ. When Paul preached the gospel on Mar's Hill he had no relationship with the crowd, but he shared it and people got saved. When Jesus asked the women at the well for some water he had no relationship with her, but he gave her the living water and she became a satisfied believer.

I think, in the name of relationship, bridge building, listening, loving, etc., many of us in youth ministry have lost our gumption. We have chickened out...and blamed our relational style of evangelism.

You get the point. Don't be a wimp.

But don't be a jerk either.

I was raised in a tight, right and extremely white church that preached with an “up yours” attitude. Yeah, sure we were bold but many times we were too pushy. If you didn't listen to our manic monolithic monologue and respond with a “yes, I believe” well, you were a poor soul on the highway to hell. “NEXT!” We'd just move on to our next victim.

We used to look at “soul winning” as a competition. “He who dies with the most souls wins” was the mantra we lived by. I'm ashamed of this now, but we would go to the mall, witness like crazy and then come back and compare numbers to see who was the best soul scalper.

As an evangelist I was a jerk.

But then I married a wimp.

My wife changed my life...and I changed hers. I brought her boldness. She taught me love. I showed her what to say. She showed me how to listen. I got her fired up. She got me calmed down.

You see it's not an either or thing. It's both and. Jesus told us to be salt and light, not salt or light. We “shake the salt” with our loving lives and “shine the light” with our verbal witness. We live it and give it. But we're aggressive in both. And we're caring in both.

Christians who share boldly without loving intensely are bull-horn, bull-headed blowhards (A.K.A. jerks) who turn off more people than they turn on to Christ. Believers who just love and listen (without ever sharing) are chickens...wimps of the worst kind.

Youth ministry needs bold, loving, caring, catalytic, concerned, unrelenting, uncompromising, unassuming evangelists who live it out loud and share it out loud. Courage combined with compassion. Intensity mixed with empathy. Proclamation married with incarnation.

George Whitefield used to pray before going into potentially volatile situations, “God, give me the mixture of the lion and the lamb.”

That's exactly what we need.

If we are going to lead our students into the battlefield of life then we need to do it by example. We need to show them how.

This means risk.

If you are naturally a wimp who tends to wait too long and miss a lot of opportunities in the name of bridge-building then you are going to have to risk starting sooner with the whole gospel thing.

If you are more of a jerk who tends to make people mad then you must risk taking time to listen and love in the midst of your proclamation.

Jesus was the ultimate balance. He knew when to speak up and when to shut up. He knew when to cry and when to confront. Jesus was never a wimp. He was never a jerk either.

Let's be like Jesus.

Just passing on the goods!  Hearitfirst.com is giving away 12 new songs from some very new artist.  Some haven't even released an album yet.  Some have been on the scene for a bit, but are still fairly new.  Anywho...Enjoy the Free music.

 

http://www.hearitfirst.com/download/

 

Think about it as an early Christmas gift!

 

Shelby...Out! 

Praise God!! I have finally found a job.  I will be the new Admissions Coordinator for Draughon's Junior College.  I will be recruiting new students and trying to implement a recruiting strategy for high school students.  I so excitied that I will be do something within my degree that allows to do something that I enjoy. 

So I have heard for the last 4 years that Olive Garden is coming to Murfreesboro, TN only to be let down.  Every building that is going up I am always like, "Olive Garden baby!" but then to see signs like Red Robin, Carrabba's, Pei Wei.  Anyways, after watching this building go up right behind Carrabba's I am wondering again.  I went to Olive Garden's website and there is a Management Opportunity here in Murfreesboro.  Which means that there is one coming.  When? hopefully soon!  Where? who care!? 

 

Also, if you haven't drove over to The Avenue, Murfreesboro new and largest  mall in Tennessee there are places that are open.  Dick's Sporting Goods and then Best Buy is training currently and will be opening within two weeks.  We will also be getting a Macaroni Grill and a Longhorn Steakhouse both opening by September.  

 

Lot of Good stuff going on in the 'Boro!  Make me excited that I live here. 

I don't know if you have heard of this church, but I have been trying to figure out how this church operates since I heard about it about a year ago.  The church is called Life Church.  Their website,

photo from scfutebol77

This is an internet church.  I first heard about them when they did a series called "My dirty little secret" and allowed members to confess thier secrets and sins to God on a online blog hosted by the church.  It was a huge success, but the Catholics didn't care much for it.  This got me interested in this church.  How does a church have church online?

Well this past sunday I went.  It started with me waking up, putting my PJ's on, grabbing some breakfast,  and logging on.  Upon logging on, you are asked, which worship to you want.

photo from scfutebol77

Option 1, a little edgier, Option 2 more like...Passion.  I chose 1, but the beautiful thing is, you can switch it up at anytime.

You click your worhsip style then directed to the "Lobby"

photo from scfutebol77

this is where you will find  announcements, welcome message, and Mix and Mingle.  What is that, well, it is a chatroom where you can do just that with the people across the globe going to church with you, it like the gathering in the foyer of the church, yet it's not.

photo from scfutebol77

After chatting, you are alerted by a countdown that Worship have started and it launched off.  Here I am sitting in my living room rocking out to my favorite worship in surround sound on my computer screen.  CRAZY!!  It is a live feed from thier campus in Oklahoma, the worhip was awesome and fun.

photo from scfutebol77

They have the song that you are singing, the artist who sings it, and where you can buy it.  Also the words are on the screen for you to sing along.

 

After about  30 minutes of singing went into the message.  They love to intergrate rich media, movies, and excellent theology.  The message was incredible, relevant, and attentive.  The only thing that I had trouble with the video feed freezing up.  I was going to get a screenshot, but couldn't, so here is one that you can watch online now.

photo from scfutebol77

the thing that I like the most is that the video feed is to your left, notes, fill in the blanks, and scripture to your right.

 

So my first experience with Lifechurch was great.  I really enjoyed it and I was able to stay home.  

If you are think, "Well you miss the experience of church." Well think no more, if you are interested in having the church experience, you can experience it all live in Hendersonville, TN  lifechurch has launched one of their  12 campuses there in Hendersonville, so if you want a very relevant, edgy, integrated church, check them out. www.lifechurch.tv

photo from scfutebol77

 

 

 

 

 

 

But until then...

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

 

Who doesn't enjoy a free cup of coffee, or smoothie, or a ice cold frap??

WELL TODAY IS YOUR LUCKY DAY!!

Maxximo Joes in Smyrna is having free coffee and more.  Everything on their menu is free until 8:00 p.m. tonight.  It is off of Sam Ridley Parkway close to Wendy's!

Just thought you would want to know!

I Am Hooking you UP!

I'll admit it...I'm a sucker for things in the entertainment world that are so bad they are actually, well, entertaining. It's the train wreck effect I guess. You want to look away, but you just can't. Something keeps you glued to the screen or the page - bonding you with the love/hate horrors that are appallingly bad and yet strangely good attempts at some form of art.

The latest for me is the phenom named Sanjaya Malakar. The fauxhawk sporting smoldering eyed American Idol contestant has brought more excitement to the show than it has had in years. There are myspace folks who are on hunger strikes for him to get kicked off, and millions of others who have worn their little fingers out by voting for him week in and week out. Love Sanjaya or hate him, it's hard to look away - right?

But my all-time favorite form of train wreck art is bad writing and poetry. Why? Because writing and poetry are such amazing ways to express feelings and thoughts - so when they are poorly composed, it sticks out like a pimple on the face of life. For example, one of the key skills in writing is the use of good metaphors/analogies/similes. Good ones inspire the imagination, and bad ones mystify the mind (or turn the stomach). Let me share a few of my favorite 'train wreck' *examples to see if you agree.

He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

Her hair glistened in the rain like nose hair after a sneeze.

Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

Every minute without you feels like 60 seconds.

Her parting words lingered heavily inside me like last night's Taco Bell.

Speaking of poetry, did you know that you are actually a poem yourself? It's absolutely true. You are a living, breathing, work of art that each and every day appears in front of the world as a masterpiece or a train wreck...and it's completely your choice. Here's how God's word describes what I'm talking about:

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10)

The word 'masterpiece' used here is the Greek 'poema'...sound like any word you know? Of course it does - it is where we get our word 'poem'. In other words, every Christian is a living poem, adding new lines to the story every day!

So how do our lives end up being masterpieces instead of train wrecks? Easy - Paul tells us in the rest of the verse we looked at:

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Eph 2:10)

Think about it - long before you were even a sparkle in your parents' eyes, you were a complete story in your Father's mind. Before the earth began He already had pulled out the heavenly paper and wrote your name at the top - and a smile came across Jesus' face as He envisioned what your life would look like if you decided to live out the 'good things he planned for us long ago'.

In other words, when you trusted Christ, God gave you a pen and the freedom to 'write' your life poem however you choose...but here's the great part. He also gave you a pattern to follow so your life will be a complete masterpiece. He offers to help you design your living story so that when you get to heaven, you'll look up at God's refrigerator and right there above the living water dispenser will be your 'poema' with a smiley face and big gold star for all to see.

I don't know about you, but that's what I want for my life. That's why each day I try to write good poetry into my life by asking myself how Jesus would handle situations and looking for ways to touch other people's live with the love of God and the gospel of Christ. It helps me to remember that each day, the lines are already there for me...I just need to fill them in.

And when I don't, my life takes on a train wreck quality that looks like a soggy rat making its way through a dark and stormy night.

So if that sounds familiar, remember that you are not some random being who is the product of random chance. You are a masterpiece...God's living poem...His work of art.

Ready to get writing? Me too!

Here is a question that was raised during one of my seminary classes.

Do you have to be a Disciple to be a Christian?

If so, why?
If not, why not?

Great news!! Jennifer and I have bought our first house!!  We closed last wednesday, December 27, 2006.  We will be moving in on January 6!  We haven't moved out of the 'Boro, but only to the rural area. 

An Atheist Professor of philosophy speaks to his class on
the problem science has with God, The Almighty.  He asks one of his new students to stand
and.....

 Prof: So you believe in God?

 Student: Absolutely, sir.

 Prof: Is God good?

 Student: Sure.

 Prof: Is God all-powerful?

 Student: Yes.

 Prof: My brother died of cancer even
though he prayed to God to
 heal him. Most of us would attempt to
help others who are ill.
 But God didn't. How is this God good then?
Hmm?

 (Student is silent.)

 Prof: You can't answer, can you? Let's
start again, young fella. Is
 God good?

 Student: Yes.

 Prof: Is Satan good?

 Student: No.

 Prof: Where does Satan come from?

 Student: From...God...

 Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is
there evil in this world?

 Student: Yes.

 Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And
God did make everything.
 Correct?

 Student: Yes.

 Prof: So who created evil?

 (Student does not answer.)

 Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality?
Hatred? Ugliness? All these
 terrible things exist in the world,
don't they?

 Student: Yes, sir.

 Prof: So, who created them?

 (Student has no answer.)

 Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you
use to identify and
 observe the world around you. Tell me,
son...Have you ever seen
 God?

 Student: No, sir.

 Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard
your God?


<!--
D(["mb","&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: No, sir.<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, or smelled yourn<br>&gt;&gt; God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?<br>&gt;&gt;<br>n&gt;&gt; Student: Yes.<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol,<br>&gt;&gt; science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?<br>&gt;&gt; Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.n<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Prof: Yes.<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: And is there such a thing as cold?n<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Prof: Yes.<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: No sir. There isn't.<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; (The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat,n<br>&gt;&gt; mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have<br>&gt;&gt; anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no<br>&gt;&gt; heat, but we can't go any further after that.Theren is no such thing<br>&gt;&gt; as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat.<br>&gt;&gt; We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of<br>&gt;&gt; heat, sir, just the absence of it.n<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; (There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as<br>&gt;&gt; darkness?<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?n<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of<br>&gt;&gt; something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light,<br>&gt;&gt; flashing light.... But if you have no light constantly, you haven",1]
);
//-->

 Student: No, sir.

 Prof: Have you ever felt your God,
tasted your God, or smelled your
 God? Have you ever had any sensory
perception of God for that matter?

 Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

 Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?

 Student: Yes.

 Prof: According to empirical, testable,
demonstrable protocol,
 science says your GOD doesn't exist.
What do you say to that, son?
 Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.

 Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the
problem science has.

 Student: Professor, is there such a
thing as heat?

 Prof: Yes.

 Student: And is there such a thing as
cold?

 Prof: Yes.

 Student: No sir. There isn't.

 (The lecture theatre becomes very quiet
with this turn of events.)

 Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat,
even more heat, superheat,
 mega heat, white heat, a little heat or
no heat. But we don't have
 anything called cold. We can hit 458
degrees below zero which is no
 heat, but we can't go any further after
that.There is no such thing
 as cold. Cold is only a word we use to
describe the absence of heat.
 We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy.
Cold is not the opposite of
 heat, sir, just the absence of it.

 (There is pin-drop silence in the
lecture theatre.)

 Student: What about darkness, Professor?
Is there such a thing as
 darkness?

 Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't
darkness?

 Student: You're wrong again, sir.
Darkness is the absence of
 something. You can have low light,
normal light, bright light,
 flashing light.... But if you have no
light constantly, you have

<!--
D(["mb","<br>&gt;&gt; nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness<br>&gt;&gt; isn't.<br>&gt;&gt; If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't<br>&gt;&gt; you?<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?n<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You arguen<br>&gt;&gt; there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You<br>&gt;&gt; are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can<br>&gt;&gt; measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It usesn<br>&gt;&gt; electricity and magnetism, but man has never seen, much less fully<br>&gt;&gt; understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be<br>&gt;&gt; ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.n<br>&gt;&gt; Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell<br>&gt;&gt; me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a<br>&gt;&gt; monkey?<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, thenn<br>&gt;&gt; yes, of course I do.<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; (The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize<br>&gt;&gt; where the argument is going.)n<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at<br>&gt;&gt; work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going<br>&gt;&gt; endeavour, are you not teaching your own opinion, sir? Are you not an<br>&gt;&gt; preacher rather than a scientist?<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; (The class is in uproar)<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the<br>&gt;&gt; Professor's brain?<br>&gt;&gt;n<br>&gt;&gt; (The class breaks out into laughter)<br>&gt;&gt;<br>",1]
);
//-->

 nothing and it's called darkness, isn't
it? In reality, darkness
 isn't.
 If it were, you would be able to make
darkness darker, wouldn't
 you?

 Prof: So what is the point you are
making, young man?

 Student: Sir, my point is your
philosophical premise is flawed.

 Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?

 Student: Sir, you are working on the
premise of duality. You argue
 there is life and then there is death, a
good God and a bad God. You
 are viewing the concept of God as
something finite, something we can
 measure. Sir, science can't even explain
a thought. It uses
 electricity and magnetism, but man has
never seen, much less fully
 understood either one. To view death as
the opposite of life is to be
 ignorant of the fact that death cannot
exist as a substantive thing.
 Death is not the opposite of life: just
the absence of it. Now tell
 me, Professor. Do you teach your
students that they evolved from a
 monkey?

 Prof: If you are referring to the
natural evolutionary process, then
 yes, of course I do.

 Student: Have you ever observed
evolution with your own eyes, sir?

 (The Professor shakes his head with a
smile, beginning to realize
 where the argument is going.)

 Student: Since no one has ever observed
the process of evolution at
 work and cannot even prove that this
process is an on-going
 endeavour, are you not teaching your own
opinion, sir? Are you not a
 preacher rather than a scientist?

 (The class is in uproar)

 Student: Is there anyone in the class
who has ever seen the
 Professor's brain?
 
 (The class breaks out into laughter)



<!--
D(["mb","&gt;&gt; Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's<br>&gt;&gt; brain, felt it, touched or smelled it? No one appears to have done<br>n&gt;&gt; so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable,<br>&gt;&gt; demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With<br>&gt;&gt; all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?n<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; (The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face<br>&gt;&gt; unfathomable.)<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Student : That is it, sir.... The link between man &amp; God is FAITH.n<br>&gt;&gt; That is all that keeps things moving &amp; alive.<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Now guess who the student is........<br>&gt;&gt; .<br>&gt;&gt; ..<br>&gt;&gt; ...<br>&gt;&gt; ....<br>&gt;&gt; .....<br>&gt;&gt; ....n<br>&gt;&gt; ...<br>&gt;&gt; ..<br>&gt;&gt; .<br>&gt;&gt; ...<br>&gt;&gt; ....<br>&gt;&gt; .....<br>&gt;&gt; ....<br>&gt;&gt; ...<br>&gt;&gt; ..<br>&gt;&gt; .<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; <br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; <br>&gt;&gt;<br>n&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; That young man was ALBERT EINSTEIN.......<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt;<br>&gt;&gt; Click &quot;reply&quot; then copy, paste, and repost if this story amazed you.<br>&gt;&gt; There are NO chains attached, and that's the beauty of it...n<br><br><br clearu003d"all">nn",0]
);
D(["ce"]);
//-->
 Student: Is there anyone here
who has ever heard the Professor's
 brain, felt it, touched or smelled it?
No one appears to have done
 so. So, according to the established
rules of empirical, stable,
 demonstrable protocol, science says that
you have no brain, sir. With
 all due respect, sir, how do we then
trust your lectures, sir?

 (The room is silent. The professor
stares at the student, his face
 unfathomable.)

 Prof: I guess you'll have to take them
on faith, son.

 Student : That is it, sir.... The link
between man & God is FAITH.
 That is all that keeps things moving
& alive.

The student was Albert Einstein

I JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT SWIFTY ON MEMORIAL BLVD. HAS GAS FOR $1.99 AND $1.96 IF YOU PAY WITH CASH. 

JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE LOVE!!  I AM ALL ON SOME CHEAP GAS!!

We have a new dog in our family.  Meet Mr. Harley Craig.  He is a Lhasa Apso/Terrier.  Him and Chester have been playing all night last night.

Click Here to see his pictures!

The greatest gift I have ever been given by the Lord, save for my salvation, was when I was given some eternal perspective by him that really shook me and destroyed me in high school. I remember it well. The epiphany came to me right after reading in "Revolution in World Missions". Think about it: what if you were given a revelation as to how much longer you had to live? Would you live any different than you are now? Would you stop concerning yourself with others opinions of you and side with Peter when he said to "judge for yourself whether it is better in your sight for us to please men or to please God." (Acts 4:19). Psalm 39:4 is the cry of my heart so often."LORD, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am."Dear God may all of my days be comforted by the thought of my eternity and tortured by the thought of others.
It is true that part of my generation is on fire for Jesus, suffering all things for the sake of the Gospel. The other part is asleep. Only by God's grace am I starting to wake up little by little. May I never boast that I woke myself up. No, Jesus is my great awakening, and O how He longs for the bride to be purified; a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:14). Thus, the function of my ministry is both for encouragement and exhortation. If any of my messages that God has given me will help us to realize the LORD's holy calling in our lives, then may I continue to preach. Otherwise, I just feel like I'm wastingeveryone's time.
Jesus Christ is real. I wonder how much we believe that. Growing up I often thought, "If Christ is who He says He is, and if He did what He said He did, then my whole life must be totally and absolutely consumed with Jesus." Of course, I did not and do not always live as if it were so. If heaven, and perhaps more importantly hell is real, why do I find more Christians in front of an xbox than in front of a lost soul pleading with them for their eternity?
Christians, why don't our hearts ache for the lost? Why don't we weep for the ignorance of this world? Can anyone take me to the verse in Acts where all the disciples "hung out"? No, their lives were moment by moment absorbed with prayer, fasting, genuine fellowship, serving and witnessing. This is not a lofty utopian goal. It will take broken hearts, much prayer and the Holy Spirit's beautiful and pivotal activity. I am young, I know this. I am also not claiming to have uncovered the great forgotten truths of the bible. There is nothing new under the sun that I have been thinking about. All I know is that my heart longs for the bride to be unashamedly bold for the name sake of her bridegroom. All I know is that we are all as Christians going home soon enough and we must redeem the time. All I know is I don't want to be guilty of another man's blood (Ezekiel 3:17-19). Hopefully something in this cacophony of writings and thoughts will spur some believer on to good works, so they will obey Christ's commandments and therefore abide in his love (John 15:10).
I have been praying that God would rid me of cynicism, and I don't believe that any of what I said is in a cynical spirit. In fact, if what I said wasn't founded on the Word of God, shoot me an email and we'll talk. I'll finish with this: I was led to a scripture the other day that I want to be true in my life. May it be true in yours as well.
"I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O LORD, You know.I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation." Psalm 40:9-10

I have a guy that you need to check out. Jimmy Needham I will compare him to the Jason Mraz of Christian Music.  His new single, "Lost at Sea" is blowing up the airways in Nashville, get to know this guy before everyone else does.   Then you'l be sayin, "I've been listening to him for a minute now. 

Also, you can download one of his songs along with 6 other Christian artist for free, 12 songs in all.  Think about it as a christmas in july present for the ol' ipod! Feed your iPod!
Artist include: Foolish Things, Jimmy needham, Matt Kearney, Tree63, Shane and Shane, Superchic[k], asn Paul Coleman.

Please your ears, your thank me later.

Enjoy!!

Sharing the Love,
Shelby

Tonight my youth group is hosting a NCAA 07  Tournament.  There will be some snacks and about 1000 gallons of water to swim in while you are not playing.  I am attaching the email I sent my youth.  You are more than welcome to come if you are in grades 9-12, come on, bring your gameface!!

6:00 p.m.

***Starting Email***
Tonight we will be having the NCAA 07 Football Face-OFF!! Bring your
game face and swimsuit. There will be some snacks to eat on, so don't
plan on calling it dinner. If you want to play in the face-off, we will
be having a Xbox, and 2 PS2. If you want to bring you own controller,
you may. (I know that may seem a little geeky, but I am just
comfortable with my phat daddy controller!)



SWIMMING!! Have I mention that there is about 1,000 gallons of water to
splash around in to cool off you intense football action. And also for
anyone who could care less about playing video games, you can swim and
eat (just wait 30 minutes before getting in the pool, mom said so!).



Directions:

From Smyrna:

I-24 east to Exit 78A toward Franklin

Turn left at 1st light. (Cason Ln.)

Turn right at the 2nd light (Cason Trail) (there is a light as soon as you turn onto Cason Ln. I am counting that light.)

Go about 1/2 mile

Turn left on Satterfield Court.

1736 Satterfield Court



If you find yourself at a stop sign, you have gone 20 feet to far, turn around and turn onto Satterfield.





See You There!!!



Bringing my A-Game,

Shelby

Gabe asked me to make one for Kentucky, and so I did.  If you have a team that you want one done for, please send me a high resolution picture to shelby.craig@gmail.com and I will make it if I have time.

Thanks

Since EbGames and ESPN didn't find mtsu worthy enought to be on a cover of the new NCAA 07 football, i decided to make one myself.  The picture quality is not that great, but it is all I could find.

If you have a better picture, please email it to me at shelby.craig@gmail.com and I will make another, ENJOY!

One of the last things that Jesus said was that he was going to prepare a place for us, a place of many mansions, crystal sea, streets of gold.  The Bible also states that there will be work in heaven.  So here is my thought.
 Do you think the things we do here on Earth is just building up a stack of lumber and the work that we will do in heaven is building our own mansion?  God will make us build our own dwelling.  I mean, we are not going to complain about it if that is the case, we will be in the presence of God.  But wonder if when we enter through the gates of heaven, St. Peter says, "Shelby, your lumber pile is the 8th one on the left and the supply house for the hammer and nails is down at the Mansion Depot and if you want a gold sidewalk go see Matthew and Mark, tell them I sent you."
Would that not just flip your lid? 
Thoughts??