“You Last Forever” Blog

www.youlastforever.com is recommended 4 times on the denominational website of the Presbyterian Church in America www.pcanet.org as a valuable resource for evangelism and discipleship. Most recently You Were Made to Last Forever received annotated listings in the PCA Christian Education and Publications section as a good resource for Church Leaders, Teachers/Disciplers, and for Men’s Ministries. The YLF video is also embedded on the CE/P sites for immediate viewing. Under the Mission to North America section for Chaplains, YLF has been listed for a year. May many churches and ministries benefit from this new paradigm for doing evangelism, discipleship, and living the Christian life.

Thursday night I was rollerblading on a paved trail near my home. Up ahead a good ways were two runners that I sped up to catch and pass. This I did fairly easily as many of our self set goals are small victories that are easy to reach. After I passed the runners and congratulated myself I proceeded to do a U turn on the relatively narrow path. However, I had not slowed down sufficiently before going into the turn. I landed on my backside and my helmet hit the ground quicker than I knew what was happening. My self congratulations for passing the runners was short lived. They ran up to see if I was hurt and to offer help. Fortunately I was able to get up by myself after lying still for a brief time to get my bearings. Declining their aid to get me to my car, I said that I was going to skate some more and I put in another 2-3 miles relatively easily and possibly foolishly. Gradually my soreness has intermittantly increased for two days. Hopefully it will let up soon so I can cough or clear my throat without anticipating pain from such mundane actions. Thankfully I was spared broken bones and a concussion. The quick transition from being triumphant to being numbered among the fallen and humbled was instantaneous. I shall ponder it at least until the pain goes away. May God preserve me and you physically and spiritually from those things that would bring us down.

How did you get here? I’m not talking about mode of transportation. Every person on Earth is related to his/her fellow human beings and all descended from the first man (and his wife). The only way any of us got here physically is through our relationship to Adam. He was the exclusive way and life for all human beings ordinarily born into this phase of existence. Similarly, Jesus Christ is called the Last Adam in 1 Corinthians 15:45, “The first Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior from sin unites us to him to go into the presence of the heavenly Father. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6) You could not get here without physical union with the first Adam. You cannot go to Heaven without spiritual union with the last Adam, Jesus Christ.

The Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship Summer Conference will be held July 12-17 at Milligan College, TN near Johnson City. Ambassador Alan Keyes will be the keynote speaker on July 13 and 14 evenings. He will also host a morning panel discussion on July 14. I have been invited again to present “You Were Made to Last Forever” as one of the morning seminars for July 13, 15 and 16. What does it mean to be a living soul in communion with the living God. Come to the YLF Seminar and find out. For Conference details go to www.pefministry.org. Hope to see you there.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to present YLF in a seminar format for 4-5 hours. We covered a lot of material in that short time with attendees ranging from about 12 to 70 years old. the attention of the audience was good throughout and several good suggestions were given to increase the effectiveness of the YLF ministry. This seminar was the culmination of my work with YLF thus far. I am pleased with the seminar, the comments afterwards, and what I have to offer any one willing to listen. Please pray as I serve the Lord and His Church with YLF.

On July 17, the last afternoon of the PEF Conference I had some free time and asked for directions to a park where I could hike. Encouraged that the trail was not too far away I headed out on what turned out to be a 45 minute drive to the TN/NC stateline. There I hiked the Appalachian Trail near Roan Mountain SP. Hiking the last 500-1000 feet from the car up to the ridge and then farther along the ridge was well worth the payoff in view from the 5800 foot elevation. Looking down either side I could see numerous peaks and ridges of “Little Switzerland”. Little did I expect what I would see when I set out for a casual stroll on a trail. God took me farther, and higher than I anticipated. Such is often the case when we set out as Abraham did “not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)

The theme of this week was “His Last Commandment, Our First Concern” and the emphasis was on revival prayer and revival preaching. The You Last Forever Seminar was well received and should bear fruit in the months and years ahead. It was a lot of work to prepare for the seminar but I feel energized by this week and am encouraged to do more. Even as I taught, God was giving me new insights that I am eager to develop. Stay tuned.

I covet your prayers for the YLF Seminar I will be teaching at Milligan College TN July 13-17 with the Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship. May many be trained to gather more fruit sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, A PCA Church near Tampa has requested that I teach the YLF Seminar to help equip the congregation in evangelism and discipleship. That training session will most likely be a weekend sometime between August and October. I’ll keep you posted.

The You Last Forever CD (50 minutes) is now available. It was recorded when I taught the You Last Forever Seminar in conjunction with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America in Orlando June 16th. To order the YLF CD go to www.barkerproductions.net.