Ultimate Redemptive Potential

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is
Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly
stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the
Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will
test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will
receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will
be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1
Corinthians 3:11-15

Every Christian has a purpose in God's kingdom. We each have tasks to fulfill, a ministry to invest in, a building to create, people to reach. In the end, God knows the worth of our efforts. He will test the fruits of our character and of our obediance.

If we have no fruit then that's a pretty easy test to fail. If we have fruit but did not have love then that is worthless, as 1 Corinthians 13 says. I remember someone who told me that they sang in the church choir every week while their Monday-to-Saturday life was questionable. They realized that singing in the choir required more than just their voice.

Paul is not saying that we are not Christians and that we do not love God if we have bad fruit. Our salvation is by faith and not by works. However, God still cares about the results of our lives, and it will be shown for what it is. I, for one, do not want to be "as one escaping through the flames." I don't want to just sqeak through my Christian life. I want to reach my ultimate redemptive potential.

Maze Craze

The college and careers group at GTA (called ExStream) is going to a corn maze on Friday October 29, 2004. I think it's this one. It costs between five and seven dollars and we're supposed to meet at GTA at 7:30 pm. Apparently it's not just a corn maze. It's a haunted corn maze, so... BOO!

If anyone older than high school ages wants to come with me then give me a call or e-mail me sometime today. As always, e-mail is best and I will probably respond within a half hour to you. I can give a ride to anyone that needs one.

News & Links

Here's a one chapter excerpt from Yao Ming's new book. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of a kid growing up in China in the 1980's and 1990's, including some comments about Mao Tse-tung's Cultural Revolution.

In other news, we found a new kind of ape. Funny how we could miss something that big.

And just 'cause it's cool, there's a new idea about how we could create super-speed spacecraft via magnetic repulsion. It could go to Mars and back in only 90 days. Just point the spacecraft at the planet you want to go to and then shoot it away from earth via magnets on a spacestation. The only trick is that you need another huge magnet at the destination in order to send the spacecraft back.

Leadership: Growth Spurt

I was chatting with my dad this morning and he mentioned this idea to me: Christians don't grow unless they become leaders.

We both agreed that this statement is somewhat simplistic since there are many ways to mature as a Christian. Still, I suggest that Christians will stagnate if they do not become leaders in some fashion. "Leading" does not mean becoming the speaker in front of a large group of people. It just refers to people taking charge and responsibility for the growth of other Christians.

A Christian that remains satisfied with being a follower or just one of the crowd (or being alone away from the crowd) will atrophy. It's surprising how much personal growth we find as we try to help others grow and as we become leaders in some way.

In my own experience, the most explosive period of growth that I have experienced in my life is when I decided to lead the youth worship team at my previous church and to start a cell group in my home. I learned so many things about myself and about others that mere teaching and Bible study would never have revealed to me.

Everyone can be a leader. More than that, the Great Commission expects Christians to do so. (Matthew 28) How else can we expect to "disciple all nations?" If you're reaching out to unsaved people or helping a new Christian grow in Christ, then welcome to leadership. You won't be the same.

Fall Classic

Game 7 of the Boston/New York series and Game 6 of the Houston/St. Louis series were both on Wednesday night. I had a horrible time on Wednesday night trying to keep track of the two games because I had cell group that night. The house I was in didn't have cable TV and none of the local radio stations were broadcasting the game. I loved the ending of the Boston/NewYork series. Biggest Comeback = Biggest Choke. Gotta love those Big Cs.

I'm not so pleased with Houston right now. With Clemens on the mount I predicated he would pitch into the seventh and that they would win game 7. Clemens let me down. Can the guy not win Game 7s?

I'm rooting for Boston to win the World Series against St. Louis but I don't think that they have the talent or the healthy bodies to pull it off. St. Louis in 6. (Jevant has his own prediction here.) I'm still confused by the fact that Schilling is scheduled to pitch again. His ankle was a patchwork as it was last time he pitched and he was bleeding by the time he was done! Granted, his last outing was one of the gutsiest+successful performances I've ever seen, right up there with Jordan scoring 38 during the NBA finals with stomach flu.

And finally, I'm having people over to my house to watch the opening of the World Series on Saturday. Anyone that wants to join us can come to my house after 7:00 pm that evening. Give me a call if you want to but feel free to just show up.