Third Place

Third place can mean many things to many people. In a game, it means two other people beat you. That might be a great accomplishment if like in, say, the New York Marathon you did better than 1000 + other runners, but in a game of 3 competitors ... well you came in last.

Third place took in a whole new meaning for me at InDepth (a youth rally held in Topeka, KS) this year. This year's emphasis was on evangelism. The speaker, Joe Boyd, challenged us to think of three places that we frequently go where we can be with people who may not know Jesus and connect with them and ultimately share our faith. Joe told us the first and second places were easy ... home and work/school. But where is the third place you spend a lot of time? And what can you do to show Jesus to those other people who are at the same place? It was very convicting and now I am on my search for my Third Place. Where would yours be?

I love the time we spend at InDepth. It is an intense three days that helps me get refocused on where my priorities should be. The following list won't make sense to a lot of people but, to a few it will. And for the rest of you it might make you interested in going next year ;)

My Top 10 List of Memories of InDepth:

10. Getting to share the tradition of the Socks
9. Prayerwalk @ Joe White's High School
8.Worship lead by downhere (AND getting to meet them!)
7. Is your life more like a Ferris Wheel or a ski lift?
6. What junk is in your cup and are you ready to empty it?
5. Onetimeblind drama team (The Stool and Trust Fall were my favorite)
4. The Evangelism Game.
3. How do you grow spiritually? A diet of the Bread of Life and exercising your faith.
2. It's all about the Gospel.... and Jesus is the Gospel!
1. Youth getting things right with God. And best of all, making the most important decision of their life - accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior!