My Fall Tour

Just returned from twelve days away from home.

Drove the smallest rental car I have ever been in on the first leg of the trip. I think Scott Distler is still laughing at me every time he thinks about seeing me drive up in my luxury vehicle.

Enjoyed being able to speak for the Northern Atlantic Fellowship youth worker training day.

Loved being at Grace Church in Lititz and hearing great teaching about the spirit world through the "Ghostbusters" theme.

Had a great time with Matt Vosberg in E-town, with the youth group and speaking at the church.

Had a good visit with my folks in CA for a few days and got some landscaping projects done for them. Met with some former students of mine. It was a great time to catch up but is is a little weird to have 35 year olds still calling me Mr. Kurtaneck...

Learned stuff at the Association of Youth Ministry Educators conference in Atlanta.
Enjoyed the Red Sox losing...

But the highlight of the trip was at the very beginning as I had two great spiritual conversations on the airplane rides. First one was with a devout Mormon where I got ask lots of questions about his faith. Found out I'm okay if he is right (second heaven I understand...) . But got to share with him what happens if my understanding of the true Biblical Jesus is correct.

Second plane ride was with a guy named Ed. Not a believer but grew up in a mainline church (all the form and none of the power) but his brother knows Jesus and has been very involved with Campus Crusade for years. It was awesome to share the gospel with Ed and to know that he has examples around him of believers who are living it out. Just one more touch.

My life was energized by these conversations. But then again, it always is when I share my faith (Philemon 6 and 7).

The Fine Line is a new publication coming out that a friend of mine just wrote. Just got a copy of Kary Oberbrunner's book before it goes to press and I look forward to reading it. The topic, from what I understand, is how to live for Jesus and engage in a culture that is not really about Him. A call to live for Jesus. Cool. Will see how it plays out in the book.

But this is a theme I am noticing. Sarah and Stacie are joining the CE National team to be "Ambassadors." They will be traveling the country beginning in January to help Operation Barnabas participants, youth leaders, disciplers, parents and others, to get a better handle on discipelship.

Same theme as the book. How to live for Jesus--whether you are on a special ministry trip or just in everyday life. Just doing the God-thing on Sunday doesn't cut it. I was going to write "Just doing the God-thing on Sunday doesn't cut it anymore." But then again, it never has.

I'm praying that I live this out in my own daily life--through meetings, contacts, more meetings, preparations, even more meetings, and times with jr high, high school and college students--this week. Hoping anyone reading this will too.