What if...?

It's one of those classic movie scenarios: the patient sitting uncomfortably on the paper-covered exam bench, still waiting for the doctor to return. This was just a routine physical, but for some reason he seems to be taking a little longer than usual. Finally the door opens and he slips in, clipboard in hand, professional expression - the cryptic kind that doctors undoubtedly learn in med school to avoid the conveyance of emotion.

He leans back against the sink, lets out a slow sigh, "Mr. Partain, I must prepare you for some difficult news."

Difficult news? Didn't see this one coming. Feeling pretty good. Worked out yesterday. Benched 245. Hadn't done that since college.

"You only have one month to live."

Wow... so much for preparation.

What if the patient sitting on the cold exam table were you?
What would you say? What would you do?

Take a look at your life at this moment. Chances are you have responsibilities, agendas, things you one day hope to do, dreams you will eventually attempt. You probably think you don't have enough time in the day already... but what if you only had one month of time left?

It changes things. Suddenly your daily strategy, your annual resolutions, your life-long goals become... different.

What makes this interesting, is that Jesus knew when He had one month to live. I wonder if He allowed Himself that knowledge, if He dwelt on it or perhaps put it out of His human mind. We know He prepared Himself for the cross; we know He prayed in incomprehensible ways, that He drew His disciples close and spoke with them in His classic ambiguous way, foretelling the things that would happen.

The world still celebrates Christ's death on Good Friday, with an even more exuberant celebration of His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

In honor of that tradition, we, the Burnt Hickory Youth Ministry, will live for one month as if it were our last. We will look to the Cross, and as each day passes we will examine our own lives in deep, creative, spiritual ways.

The journey begins March 4, 2010. Each day simply pull up this blog, read the challenge of the day. You may choose to do it... you may not. I can not force you to do anything - but then, that is what life is constructed from: choices!

At the end of 30 days, on Good Friday, we will attend the Good Friday celebration at the Verizon Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta, GA. Speaker Louie Giglio will deliver the message with music from Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman and Kristian Stanfill.

I challenge you to try living your life as though you had only one month to live! Re-ignite your purpose, your motivation and see what happens!

God bless...
J.D.


To give credit where credit is due, I would like to recommend the book that this idea was born from: "One Month to Live" co-written by Kerry & Chris Shook. Well-written and a great challenge for any time of the year, check it out!

Also, go check out the event at Verizon Amphitheatre: http://www.goodfridayatverizon.com