SHINE

I love what the women of Journey Church did this weekend.  It was Shine 2016 - 'You & Me, Better Together.'  Guests Lysa Terkuerst and Jen DeWeerdt blew it out of the water.  Close to 1,500 ladies in the house worshipping, singing, laughing, crying, praying, partying, doing life together.

These moments are 'highs' for us - not to be missed.

Some would say the sad part is that on Saturday afternoon when it's all being taken down, everybody has to go back to their regular lives.

Go back.  Yes.
Regular.  No.

It's time to SHINE.

There's a right way of thinking that the Gospel of Jesus cannot simply be shown, it must be told.  I agree with that.  Words are necessary.  The plan of salvation for every person isn't altogether intuitive unless someone opens his mouth to share it.

And yet, shining has its place.  A big place.

There's something exasperating about a person who tries to be the Kingdom of God's on stage anchorman or the candidate for the We Love Jesus Party.

I can't always put my finger on why that's irksome, but it is.

We don't sell Jesus the way the guy on the busy road sells tax preparation by wearing the Statue of Liberty costume or the way Little Caesar's sells pizza with the student on the corner wearing a sandwich board.

You can publicize Jesus - or you can SHINE Jesus.

There must be both show and tell for sure.  Probably as much damage has been done to the cause of Christ by the wrong kind of showing as the wrong kind of telling.  Maybe more.  But I find I can sustain showing a lot better and longer than I can sustain telling.  Maybe it's just me.

So SHINE 2016 has officially closed its books.  What remains is the great celebration of what a tremendous event it was.

Your life goes on.  TELL every chance you get.  SHINE without ceasing.

And be blessed.