CoJourner Transferable Concept

Encouraged that the CoJourners: A Transferable Concept is now available.

http://crupress.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/evangelism/cojourners_a_transferable_concept

This provides a summary article of the CoJourner paradigm, along with explanations of the various CoJourner resources now available.

Bad PR - Evangelical's Public Image

Something triggered my thinking back to this Barna report...

http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=280

Common negative perceptions of present-day Christianity include:

judgmental (87%), hypocritical (85%), old-fashioned (78%), and too involved in politics (75%)

Those are high numbers for low opinions.

What does it mean for a CoJourner - a believer who engages in the spiritual journeys of others to help them on their way to Jesus? We must demonstrate a genuine concern and relational "safety" that distinguishes ourselves from the common perception the average person has of Christian believers today.

Why Muslims Come to Christ

An interesting study on Why Muslims Come to Christ has come from J. Dudley Woodbury, Professor of Islamic Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. Insights are at:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/october/42.80.html

Note: Muslims who have come to Christ indicate:
1. The most important factor is the lifestyle of Christians (i.e. moral consistency; love among them; etc.)
2. The power of God in answered prayers and healing (including deliverance from demonic powers.)
3. Dissatisfaction with the type of Islam they had experienced.
4. Influence of dreams and visions.
5. The attractiveness of the gospel message and the spiritual truth in the Bible.
6. Bible's teaching on the love of God (particularly the love expressed through the life and teachings of Jesus.)

Interesting list to reflect upon.

Just became aware of the book, D'Souza book, What's So Great About Christianity?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1596985178/theindepeende-20/002-6508816-9461647

Note the issues from the "inside cover" quoted from the amazon reviews...

D'Souza reveals:
*Why Christianity explains what modern science tells us about the universe and our origins--that matter was created out of nothing, that light preceded the sun--better than atheism does
*How Christianity created the framework for modern science, so that Christianity and science are not irreconcilable, but science and atheism might be
*Why the alleged sins of Christianity--the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Galileo affair ("an atheist's fable")--are vastly overblown
*Why atheist regimes are responsible for the greatest mass murders of history
*Why evolution does not threaten Christian belief, but actually supports the "argument from design"
*Why atheists fear the Big Bang theory and the "anthropic principle" of the universe, which are keystones of modern astronomy and physics
*How Christianity explains consciousness and free will, which atheists have to deny
*Why ultimately you can't have Western civilization--and all we value from it--without the Christianity that gave it birth.

Interesting issues? Huh?

Spiritual Journey -- Away from God

I often share the spiritual journeys of others -- most often those that lead to Christ. But we must face the reality that many journeys don't lead to Christ, and for many reasons. We should read those that lead away with genuine compassion and seeking wisdom to understand. Here is a heart-breaking story of one whose faith was broken by the moral failure of those who claim the name of Christ, but whose fruit indicate they are of a different nature (Matt 7:15-23.)

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-lostfaith21jul21,0,2152302.story?page=1&track=ntottext&coll=la-tot-topstories

God is Not Dead in Europe

For a fascinating read from the Wall Street Journal...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118434936941966055.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Fireseeds of Spiritual Awakening

I'm very encouraged to be holding a newly released copy of a revised Fireseeds of Spiritual Awakening, a campus ministry classic written by Dan Hayes. The promo says of it...

For over two decades, Fireseeds has inspired us to pray, to expect the impossible, and to trust God for new works of His Spirit - in our lives and on the campus. Fireseeds is a proven tool for igniting campus wide, student-led prayer. But it is more than a book on prayer. It is a book of stories; stories of great prayer movements, revivals, and the students who gave leadership to them.

That has been our experience with this powerful book. I am so grateful to my good friend and co-worker, Rick James, for having the vision to update and re-release this great tool!

http://www.campuscrusade.com/WSN/fireseeds.htm