Olympic Challenge

I posted this classic video clip back in 2010, but in light of the Olympics, I thought it would be a good one to re-post.  Francis Chan knows how to illustrate things in creative, compelling and challenging ways.  I love this guy!

Opportunities not to miss...

The other day we listened to Francis Chan’s talk from the Desiring God “Think” conference. WOW. Adam Simpson and I were talking about how we should probably listen to that talk like every three months just to keep focused on Christ and the mission he has called us to! I recommend it so heartily! Please watch it.

At one point, Francis talks about when he was in high school. He had come to know and love Jesus and was burdened for those around him to know Christ as well. He was a junior and the High School yearbook came out. He was thumbing thru the pages and as he was looking at all the seniors he began to realize that there were tons of people who he was probably never going to see again after graduation. So despite the awkwardness, he picked up the phone and started calling all of the seniors to have a conversation about God and how important it is to be in a relationship with him.

That story inspires me as I marvel at his intensity and passion. It also makes me a little bit sad because proclaiming the greatness of Jesus was not my priority back in high school. And that’s a bummer because High school is a place, I believe, where if you were really sold out for Jesus you could probably communicate and demonstrate the Gospel to your whole school! I mean that’s just the kind of close knit, “everybody knows everybody” kind of environment that High School is! It’s sad that so often Christ is not exalted amongst his professed followers because it’s not “cool.” Talk about missed opportunity.

But college is a similar, and I believe, a somewhat greater opportunity because of the stage of life that college students are in. I am in campus ministry because I know that this is a time in life when most people are making important life changing decisions about what they are going to believe, and who they are going to live for. And though perhaps not as closely connected as high school, the university is a very social place where tons of people are gathered to learn and share life. It is my hope that students would not miss out on the opportunities here to proclaim the Glory of God to the many, many people they are studying with-people who they may never see again after graduation.

We’ve got some awesome student leaders here at Cornell, and in the next post (or the one after) I want to tell you a story of one of our friends who is really going for it here on campus.

What do caterpillars think about?

I wasn't planning to post two Francis Chan Videos in a row, but youtube suggested this one to me since I'd checked out that balance beam clip. But this one struck me because it corresponds directly to a part in Chan's book-Forgotten God- that I just recently picked up. Forgotten God is a great book about the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian, and how most Christians are tragically missing out on the closeness and power that we should be experiencing in our walk with God.

Just today, after lunch, I had my friend Larry read page 36.

He starts off with this: "Years ago, when a random thought came into my head, I decided to share it with my wife 'Have you ever wondered what caterpillars think about?' Not surprisingly, she said, "No."

(click play.)

He goes on: "As [Christians], we ought to experience this same kind of astonishment when the Holy Spirit enters our bodies. We should be stunned in disbelief over becoming a "new creation" with the Spirit living in us.......I want to be different today from what I was yesterday as the fruit of the Spirit becomes more manifest in me."

Challenge from Pastor Francis Chan

I came across this video the other day from Pastor and teacher Francis Chan. He's a great preacher, and his theatrics can be pretty unique! Chan pastors out in California. His message is usually both compelling and convicting!