About Me

What do you need to know about me to enjoy my blog and Christian perspective? I am "Poppo" to my fourteen grandchildren, "Freder" to my wife of 40+ years and family of 4 children and their 4 spouses (I consider them all our children!), and Jim Fredericks by birth. I want to make a difference in people's lives.

I'm equally comfortable in the work world, Christian world and academic world. My 40+ year career has weaved in and out between the secular and sacred (although I make no distinction!) as a manager and accountant in the business world, and as a pastor, missionary and adjunct prof as a Christian professional.

 

My heart is particularly stirred for those in the work world. Recently I heard pastor Jay Pathok say: "You have heard the saying, '20% of the people do 80% of the work in the church,' usually just before a passionate request for workers. I got to thinking. It's right that 20% of the people do 80% of the work within the church because the other 80% should be sent to their natural relationships in the work-place, bringing the light and presence of  Jesus." Much of what I have written is with this end in mind, be a catalyst for the 80% to realize the joy and satisfaction in their call "to be sent into the world without being the same as the world."

I want to provide some of what has been helpful for me on this website from my business background. I hope you will be provoked to think and reconsider as you interact with this blog.

 

What is your God-given assignment?  I invite you to explore this website and download any of the free resources you find helpful. I desire is to make a difference. Let me know how I can help. If you are looking for more, perhaps you would like to visit my website at JimFredericks.com

Jim Fredericks

Become What You Behold

Please begin with this short exercise: Take a few moments to tap into your memory bank. Close your eyes and imagine a time when you were completely accepted, not for what you could contribute or give. But simply for whom you are. Dial this memory up to center-stage.

How was it?  Now, I want to shout to you. On your good days and on your bad days, this is a small taste of how the Father, Son and Spirit feel about you. Each One is “for” you…always. God has fashioned and re-created each and every one of His people to abide in this divine interconnectedness. Destroy any other mental pictures. We become what we behold so behold this great and good God of the Bible, who is relational at His core.

Do you know Jesus personally through faith in Him? Then He has drawn you into the presence of this relational Community-of-Three to experience the same captivating co-love and tender care that the Father has for His Son. He chooses to draw us close, whether we can grasp this or not. This is Reality, whether you feel waves of His love or feel nothing, whether you come out of a positive family background or not.

But by [the Father’s] doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption
(1 Corinthians 1:30, NASB).

I don’t have all the answers…for sure. But I know that people get confused in this life about what they have done and what they think they should have done because of it and what they want in life. Everything they think they are or did takes a hold so hard. It doesn’t let them see who they really are and what they can become. God has a big idea about you and about us together in koinonia in community, and in future blogs I want to share a bit of this vision.

 “You are the son of a kind, strong, and engaged Father, a Father wise enough to guide you in the Way, generous enough to provide for your journey, offering to walk with you every step”
(John Eldredge).

 “When you feel far away, I want you to think about Me and about My love,” says the relational God of the Bible to us, His Bride. “Turn again and come a run’n back to Me quickly.” Jesus keeps coming back to this central issue of our connected Father-son relationship in His Forever Family. Especially in the Gospel of John, He paints the picture of His relationship with His Father, who adores and protects, nurtures and trains us up with His matchless care. Then Jesus calls us to experience the same relationship (John 14:20-21).

I’ve read a number of blogs online. At times, some of their threaded discussions seem to divert to argumentation over small points.  I’m more interested in implementation for LifeChange. So, I’m not encouraging posting on this blog, even if this strikes a responsive chord. Instead, find one person in your circle and pass-it-along in a face-to-face way. Jesus met with His followers personally. We are certainly able to pass on information through social media, but LifeChange happens best as we engage personally with other flesh-&-blood people. Pass it along!

New Blog for Jim

This is a new blog, I have set up for my friend Jim Fredericks.

Jim has a been a huge encouragement to me through the years. I have created this site so that the many books and resources he has developed through the years will have a home online.

Please check out the resource page.

More to come soon.