Legacy Youth Ministry Resources

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Einstein on Lack of Purpose

Albert Einstein didn?t believe in a personal God (p. 43), and recognized the consequent lack of direction in life. He once said, ??we are like shipwrecked people trying to keep their balance on a miserable plank in the open sea, having forgotten where they came from and not knowing whither they are drifting. But once we fully accept this, life becomes easier and there is no longer any disappointment.? But, I would add, neither is there any hope. (1945 letter, found in Albert Einstein: The Human Side, Selected and edited by Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman, Princeton University Press, 1979, p. 72)

The Ultimate Investment Counselor

According to Jesus, we can lay up treasures in heaven that will last forever. In light of that, we need to rethink our long-term investing strategy. According to Randy Alcorn, in his book, The Treasure Principle, ?Financial planners tell us, ?When it comes to your money, don?t think just three months or three years ahead. Think thirty years ahead.? Christ, the ultimate investment counselor, takes it further. He says, ?Don?t ask how your investment will be paying off in just thirty years. Ask how it will be paying off in thirty million years.? (Multnomah Press, Sisters, OR, p. 18)

Scholar Works Among Retarded

So many people spend their lives seeking recognition, the respect and applause of people. Here's one guy who had it all, but gave it up to minister to those our society generally ignores. Henri Nouwen was born in The Netherlands. During his youngest years he remembers a mother who always praised and affirmed him as a person, calling him to always love Jesus. Henri's father challenged him to make something of his life and pushed him to do more with his talents. His father wanted Henri to be a "success." "I lived the first part of my life listening more to the voice of my father," said Henri. "The second part of my life I listened more to the voice of my mother." This explains why a successful author, lecturer, and professor of Psychology at three top universities: Notre Dame, Yale and Harvard, gave up academic life to live in a community of mentally challenged adults. During his journey from the hallowed halls of academia to the nitty gritty of a life spent caring for adults who cannot care for themselves, Henri spent countless hours learning what it means to truly accept and love someone unconditionally. Henri learned of the work of Jean Vanier, a Canadian who created communities where adults with developmental disabilities lived with "friends." Henri moved into L'Arche Daybreak such community in Toronto, Canada to become a "friend." When Henri arrived at Daybreak, he gained notoriety more for his inability to make a sandwich than the 30 books he'd written. His heavy Dutch accent caused many to misunderstand his conversations about "faith." The residents thought this gangly man who couldn't speak very well was awfully concerned with "face." Henri spent his early years teaching the academically elite and writing 30 books on spiritual life. His last ten years were spent serving people who couldn't even read. The people of Daybreak didn't really care that Henri's name was known across the world. They just cared that he loved them. The lessons learned at Daybreak were profound for Henri the scholar. He developed a deep friendship with Adam Arnett. Adam never spoke a word in his life, yet he taught Henri his greatest lessons about slowing down, being physically present with people, and that love between two people can grow without words. Henri tells the story in his book "Adam: God's Beloved." God had been teaching Henri for several years that every person is "Beloved" to God, regardless of what we do, have, or how we look--but this was made most evident for him through his relationship with Adam. This was Henri's last book before he died of a heart attack in his homeland of The Netherlands in route to Russia to film a documentary on Rembrandt's painting of the Prodigal Son. Just a few years before, Henri wrote, "Our death may be the end of our success, our productivity, our fame or our importance among people, but it is not the end of our fruitfulness. In fact, the opposite it true....." If you looked at your daily schedule, is your time spent seeking success, or seeking lasting fruit? Will the things you're living for outlast this life, or will they die when you die? ? Copyright 2002 written by C.K. Miller, from material found on the Henri Nouwen website (www.nouwen.net/henri)

A Few Months In America

Randy Alcorn, in his book "The Treasure Principle," illustrates how to live in anticipation of our heavenly home. He asks us to imagine that we live in France, but are visiting America, living in a hotel for a few months. We know that we can't bring anything back to France on our return flight. But we can earn and have it wired to our French bank. Alcorn asks, "Would you fill your hotel room with expensive furniture and wall hangings? Of course not. You?d send your money where your home is. You would spend only what you needed on the temporary residence, sending your treasures ahead so they?d be waiting for you when you got home.? (Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle, Multnomah Press, Sisters, OR, p. 45)

Nobel Reads His Own Obituary

Alfred Nobel invented dynamite and later built companies and labs in over 20 countries, accumulating vast wealth. A brilliant man who held over 350 patents, he also wrote poetry and drama. But a dramatic personal event showed him that he needed more than personal success. Following his brother's death, a newspaper mistakenly ran an obituary for Alfred, saying that he was known for creating the most destructive force known to mankind - dynamite. The title said it all: "The Merchant of Death is Dead." The impact of reading his own obituary changed his life. Not wanting to be remembered for destruction, he began thinking of ways to give away his fortune to recognize those who had made significant contributions in medicine, chemistry, physiology, physics, literature and peace. As a result, The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded each year to the person who ?shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding of peace congresses.? Today few know Alfred Nobel as the man who invented dynamite. Instead, we know him as the creator of the Nobel Peace Prize. Because of an editorial fluke in a newspaper, Nobel faced his legacy before his death, and had the opportunity to turn things around. What will we be known for when we die? A person who built a business? Owned a nice car? Built a big house? I hope that, like Alfred Nobel, we can become farsighted people who invest in things that will matter long after our deaths. If you were to die today, how would your obituary read? Have you invested in other people to such an extent that your positive impact will be felt beyond your death? (Copyright Sept., 2002, by Steve Miller. Sources: http://www.nobel.se/nobel/alfred-nobel/ ; Alcorn, Randy, The Treasure Principle, Multnomah Publishers, Sisters, OR; p. 77-78, http://www.meaning.ca/meaningful_living/worthy_lives/alfred_nobel.html )

Giving Your Life Meaning

What you do every day should contribute to giving your life meaning. If it doesn't, why are you doing it? -- Don Hutcheson

Ted Williams' Aspiration

All I want out of life, is that when I walk down the street folks will say, "There goes the greatest hitter that ever lived." --Ted Williams

Great At Basketball, But Rest of Life?

If all I'm remembered for is being a good basketball player, then I've done a bad job with the rest of my life. --Isiah Thomas American Basketball Player, Coach

Eat Well, Die Anyway

Eat well, stay fit, die anyway Bumper Sticker

Wishing Life Had Subtitles

Sometimes I wish life had subtitles - Bumper Sticker

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