Ashish Joy writes a rather strong arguement in 'Jude - Genuine Christianity'. In today's culture, Christianity has been somewhat distorted and the fear of God lacking among many. Feel free to share your feedback in part one of this two-part essay.

 The normal Christian life is an all-encompassing love relationship with the Master, and a principle-driven love relationship with the Church. The Christian life is all about dying to self and living for God, and learning to reach to others as we grow together in community. Ashish Joy pens this article from his soul asserting with confidence that the normal Christian life is entirely livable... with a contagious compassion that reaches out to people in our communities, cities, regions and nations.

2007 is going to be an interesting year for me. I say this because there's a number of things that's changed within me. I have actual goals for the new year and I'm actually excited at the possibility of doing some really cool things.

We must meet God if we are to know Him. If you look at the world today, a rising indifference to the God of the Scriptures should not intimidate the true believer. For if they are truly believing the words of the Christ of the Scriptures, if they truly had a holistic encounter with the Christ on the Cross, they would have no qualms about following Him. It’s when we don’t know something that we create something else to combat our blatant misunderstandings. Atheists look to organized religion and say, what a bunch of bull. I look at organized religion and for the most part completely agree with the atheist. The God I serve is not about religion, rather He is about true relationship and utter dependence upon Him.

In our day and age with a fast-paced culture of busy…busy…busy, virtualised community with cellphones and texting, and an internet generation of bloggers and myspaces, we don’t completely understand what it means to become disciples. Disciples in that day age meant ‘pupil of a teacher’ . . . . Many times we want Christ to be our Savior but not our Lord. We want citizenship in heaven, without becoming Christ’s love-slave on earth. We desire freedom in Christ, without accepting the cross-lifestyle. If we truly desire to become followers of Christ, we must first become disciples and embrace kingdom discipleship.

I had the privilege of interviewing a visionary leader Pastor Pritam Singh. I was always amazed at the dedication and diligence he displayed when overcoming obstacles, finishing tasks, and seeing his dreams become a reality. When I look at this man, there really is nothing else that beats in his heart. He honestly lives out the Great Commission, and believes what the Bible says. He honors his God as he pastors, as he fathers, as he is an awesome husband, as an amazing friend, and as a exemplary visionary. This man speaks what he lives and I appreciate that so much about him. I have been touched by his dedication to ministry and to fulfilling the call of God on his life.

No, I’m not talking about the next big thing, I’m talking about things that matter continually because they are of higher significance. I want to live life with a constant attitude of growth and change. I hate being put into a box. Anytime I realize that I’m ‘in-a-box’, I try and do something to grow a little bigger, become a little more mysterious. I would say that I used to dislike the mundane and commonplace. It would drive me nuts doing the same thing over and over again. Yet somehow, I’ve found myself in a place where I’ve begun to ask myself the questions of higher significance.

There are lot of great dreams in my heart. Crazy, insane ideas and dreams for what God wants me to do with my life as I live in Him. It boggles my mind and my heart. I don’t know at times what to do with what God’s given me to do. It’s a scary thing, because when God gives you a dream, you have a beginning and a picture of an end, but really don’t know what’s going to happen as it plays out. I want to remain in the center of God’s will as I move forward. The season of Portland Bible College is drawing to a close, and I’m waiting to see what God does in and through me as I begin this next season here in the next year or so.