The Countdown Begins

One month from today is Ash Wednesday- the day I will kick-off my pre-Easter devotional series, The 40 Day Adventure: Sanctuary.  For those of you who were not with me for last year's event, this is not your normal set of devotionals.  Each week has its' own unique style.  We will fast- but not just from food.  We will study scripture. We will "soak" in song lyrics.  We will pray.  We will walk together up the hill to Calvary to see Jesus give His life so that we may live.  We will gather at the tomb on the third day to remember the resurrection.  And we will do it together.

Over the next month I will continue to offer "teasers" of what to expect on the adventure.  We will prepare our hearts and minds for the adventure.  We will celebrate Fat Tuesday together.  For now, know this:  Sanctuary, as it applies to our time together, is not a building or a room.  It is an experience of being safe in the arms of God.  And where else would you rather be?  Until next time, be blessed!

He is Risen!

The Grace Spot

In my 28 years as a youth pastor I remember countless times when I wished I knew someone who was totally disconnected from my church whom I could talk to about the issues and challenges of ministry.  Someone who could listen without prejudice.  Someone whom I could really vent to- maybe even yell at a bit.  Someone who would pray for me, my ministry, my family, my programs and my events on a daily basis.  Someone who could offer me encouragement when I was faced with tough times and difficult decisions.  I far too often didn't have that person in my life.  And that's not a good thing...

God has laid it on my heart to make myself available to be that person in the lives of some of the "friends in faith" I have been making on Twitter.  If my experience and encouragement can be of a support to you, then please feel free to call on me.  If there are things that I can pray about on your behalf, just let me know. I want to be here to serve you in the name of Jesus.  There will be no condemnation or judgement.  This is The Grace Spot- a place where all are welcome to come for mercy, love and forgiveness.  Feel free to e-mail me, Carl Jones, at Youthguy07@aol.com or to contact me through Twitter.  I look forward to enabling you to serve God more effectively by being an Encouragement Agent for your soul.  God bless!

Coming Attractions

I've let this particular blog sit idle for far too long- but no more! Beginning on Ash Wednesday (March 9) this site will once again host my pre-Easter/Lenten (depending on just how liturgical you are) devotional series, The 40 Day Adventure.  Once again I am borrowing a theme from an old Youth Specialties convention.  Last year our theme was WIDE OPEN.  This year it will be Sanctuary.  I hope you will plan to join us as we use a number of different methods- prayer, scripture lessons, fasting, music and more- to seek to find our way to the cross of Christ, and more importantly, the day of resurrection.  I look forward to our journey together!

He is Risen!

American Justice

Having had some experience with the American justice system over the past few years, I can tell you that justice may be blind, but it can certainly smell money.  The amount of time you serve for committing crimes in America is directly proportionate to the amount of money you can spend on an attorney.  If you have a public defender, then you are going away for a long time.  It's just the way it is.  The late, great Larry Norman once wrote:

"All men are equal, all men are brothers

So why are the rich more equal than others

Don't ask me for answers, I only have one

A man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son."

Never confuse our legal system with Justice.  Only God offers justice.  That's all I'm saying...

Rumors

A rumor was making the rounds of Facebook yesterday that President Obama (who according to many wingnuts actually handed Eve the apple in the Garden) had cancelled the National Day of Prayer, which happens each May.  I must have seen it posted at least 5 times on Marilyn's feed.  It is not true (a judge ruled the day unconstitutional; an appeal is expected), but that is really beside the point.  How can anyone, even the President, cancel a day of prayer?  It's kind of like all of the fuss about prayer in schools over the years.  If I, or my child, want to pray at school, who can stop me?  I used to have a button on the the bulletin board in my office that read, "As long as there are exams, there will be prayer in schools."  Sounds about right to me...

I'm Just Saying...

Why is it our country never runs out of money for wars?  USAmerica only seems to run out of money for things like education and health care...

Day 40- WIDE OPEN

Today is the final day of The 40 Day Adventure.  I will post again tomorrow in honor of Easter and the celebration of our Risen LORD!  I hope that during our time together you have discovered something new about yourself and your walk with the Savior.  I hope that you have discovered anew what grace really is and what the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf was really all about.  Our theme scripture from 2 Corinthians 6:11 is once more presented at left.  I hope it means something different to you now than when we started on Ash Wednesday.  Paul was writing to the church at Corinth about how we tend to live our lives in a box.  We so often fence ourselves in by putting God in a box.  God cannot and will not be contained by the things of man.  Don't let this world contain your love and your faith.  Be WIDE OPEN to living large, to changing the world in the name of Jesus.  He said that He came to bring us life- the abundant life, and life eternal.  Rich Mullins used to say "Live like you'll die tomorrow...Die knowing you'll live forever."  And that, my friends, is the definition of living the WIDE OPEN live with Jesus.  Because of His sacrifice, we have full access to the Creator of the universe.  What could be better than that?

Happy Easter to everyone. He is RISEN!  He is RISEN INDEED!!!