This post is dedicated to the memory of Cory Carrier. He truly did know how to live each day to the fullest.

Although they had a small-time start in Canada, they are now huge in the U.S.  Nickelback smashed onto the Billboard charts in 2001 with “How You Remind Me” and has convinced folks to buy more than 25 million albums since then.  Included in Nickelback’s trophy case are accolades from the MTV Video Music Awards, the World Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the Juno Awards, and several nods from the guys at the Grammy’s.  Nickelback’s presence has been felt in the pop, hard rock, alternative, and metal crowds.  

In other words, I’m assuming you know who Nickelback is?

Or perhaps you’re familiar with one of their latest hits – “If Today Were Your Last Day”- that was also made into a very cool video.  This song is also a very clear reminder that even though we’d like to think we have a long time to live here on earth, the fact is, no one really knows and there are definitely no guarantees. So in light of that, Nickelback poses some great questions:

If today was your last day
& tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
Would you call those friends you’ve never seen?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you’re dreaming of?
Swear up & down to God above
That you’ll finally fall in love?
If today was your last day

So…what if today really was your last day?  

Seriously, don’t we just assume we have all the time in the world? So we fritter and waste away the hours and days on mostly meaningless and generally purposeless activities that really make no difference in the grand scheme of things?

That is what Nickelback is getting at, and I think this is an issue worth thinking about – and even contemplating for a bit.

Why?  Well, for many reasons.  But I think the most important being the fact that you don’t want to look back at the end of your life with the burden of regret.  Oh yes, there are thousands, maybe millions of people who do every single day.  Instead of passing into eternity with a triumphant feeling of having squeezed every drop of juice out of life, their souls are weighted with the lament of all the “if only” and “why didn’t I” flashbacks of life.

You know whose life didn’t end with regret?  The Apostle Paul’s. Read and reflect on what is probably the last thing written by him and recorded in the Bible:

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me – the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Did you catch the parallels between Paul’s last words and “If Today Were Your Last Day”?  They both have a clear statement of “I’m going beyond this culture’s annoying habit of wasting the days that could have been spent with passion and investment in the things that last forever.”

Paul spent his days pouring out his life like a “drink offering” to God, because he knew two very critical things.  First, Jesus Christ will return – and can at any time – and call all true believers into His kingdom.  Second, after His return there will be a Judgment Day, when we will all give an account of how we spent the time we had on Earth.

Those two facts became the engine and the fuel of his life and as a result, he wrote two thirds of the New Testament and was used by God to spread the gospel throughout the world.

What if Paul hadn’t lived each day as if it were his last?  Well, he would have made more money, been more comfortable, maybe even retired on a tropical island and invented the internet so he’d have something to do.

And he would have sped into eternity with an eternity of regret.

But that wasn’t for him, and that isn’t for me.  And do you know what?  I hope it isn’t for you either!  Pour out each day like a drink offering to God.  Look forward to Jesus’ return at every turn in life.  And most importantly, remember there will be a Judgment day, which I hope is a day where your life is applauded and your work is rewarded.

That is how to live like today is your last day.

I’ve never really been a conformist. I think people that know me know that I go against the grain. I play the devil’s advocate, I turn things upside down. So it shouldn’t be a surprise when I am so passionate about religion that I am taking a more radical viewpoint on an issue.  

I’ve been doing an intense study of the life of Jesus over the last 8 months. I’ve been looking at what Jesus stood for, what He had time for, and who He was as a person. Jesus had time for relationships and made it a point to be around sinners. He didn’t spend his time converting people; He spent his time doing fellowship with them, living as an example.

The bible is unanimous about loving the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul AND also to love your neighbor as yourself. Love is what Jesus stood for, and as John Lennon stated “All You Need is Love”. 

Later, during Jesus’ resurrection, there was this bit that seems to have been lost or misinterpreted. It’s called “The Great Commission” and is found in all 4 Gospel’s and The Book of Acts, making it very significant.  Matthew 28:19 states: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t say; “sit here and wait for people to come to you”. He commands us to GO and make disciples of all nations. That our job is to find these non-believers, individuals struggling with whom they are and what they believe, and make disciples of them, to baptize them in God’s name. It seems like recently, churches have grown complacent and relied on people to just show up, for them to do the right thing.

I’ve never really been classified as a shy person. In fact, if you were to ask people that know me, I could very well be classified as the loud, noisy, obnoxious person asking 100 questions. But that’s me, I’m the type of person that wants to be your friend, to get to know you, and I don’t feel I know you until I have talked to you. Not everyone is like that, in fact, with the way technology is today, I can bet that there are more people not like me. It’s too easy nowadays to send a text message or IM and have a “serious” conversation without ever seeing the person face-to-face. I know people that have quit their job in an e-mail, broken up with their significant other in a text message, or told someone they didn’t want to be their friend in a phone call.

Now, getting back to my point, Churches expect these shy new people to come in the door as someone looking to start a relationship with Christ, or for more information about God and Jesus. That’s just not the way it’s going to happen. Christianity is about relationships and you need to form a relationship with someone before you are ever able to talk to them about religion. Jesus didn’t just come out to people and say “I am the Son of God and you need to believe in Me.” No, he made disciples, He spent time on His relationships, and He proved Himself.

My church attempts to encourage parishioners to invite new people to church, but that is a difficult thing to do as well. How do you convince someone or encourage someone to wake up at 10am on a Sunday to learn more about God and to praise Him? It’s easy to just put a responsibility on someone and expect them to do it, but the church isn’t teaching them how to develop these relationships, how to encourage and bless people to come to church. Half the battle is just working up the courage to talk to them about religion. Again in my stubbornness, I’ve never been one to follow the courtesy rule of not talking about religion to strangers.

I have the t-shirts that I wear that state “Jesus was the blood donor that saved my life”, or that “Seven Days With-out Prayer Makes One Weak”. Some people call it being “in-your-face”, but I call it an ice breaker. And in the ministry that I have felt called to, these Ice Breakers help me get teens to come and ask me about my shirt, and this is the start of that relationship I need to build with them to bring them closer to God.

It may be an exciting time for me and my call to ministry. I am currently working with the Diocese of Lexington to put together a new job for myself. I would ask for your prayers and support during this time, for me and for the people making these decisions.

I plan on delving more into this idea of building relationships and evangelism. And my hope is that as I get further into this, the more comfortable you will be to discuss your beliefs with others, because hopefully you have been saved by Jesus Christ, now your calling is to help save someone else.

I had the privilege of spending the last 4 weeks in the heart of the Episcopal Diocese – The Cathedral Domain.  I’ve always been a spiritual person, one who spreads faith and listens to people when they have something bothering them, but something about that place and the people there and that ministry has changed me. I’ve really been doing some self reflection, looking back on my life and where my priorities have been. Sure, I’ve worked the last year on Wednesdays doing Youth Ministry, but that hasn’t been my main focus. I’ve been focused on starting businesses, making money and consuming my time with the Internet and Computer work. As I look back, I’m disappointed in what I’ve done. I’ve let churches and people brainwash me into thinking that Youth Ministry only needs to be a one night a week job. I haven’t given it all of my attention and going after the job that in my heart I love doing.

Today that changes. I spoke at Jr. Conference at the domain about not being afraid of doing something and to look at things as a new chapter in the book we call life. And with the death of my friend during Senior Conference, I realize that life is too short not to go after the dreams you have, and that we really have to carpe diem, seize the day, live life to the fullest.

I’m not going to let my life be consumed by the Internet any longer. I’m still planning on doing everything I am involved with online, but some things will be changing. I am going to be changing my Facebook account from a Profile to a Page, so hopefully I can convert most of my 1,000+ friends to add my Facebook Page by going to: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ryan-Courtade/99481534473 and clicking on “Become a Fan”. I’m going to get rid of the distractions I have online and use the resources I have to promote my beliefs and to minister to those out there that need a friend.

I will use my blog, www.ryancourtade.com, as a place to put my thoughts and feelings on different issues so that you can be informed, inspired, and called to act. And you can subscribe to the RSS feed or look for my updates on Twitter (www.twitter.com/RCourtade). My life is going to be changing and I am going to be doing everything in my power to promote Youth Ministry and work full time with a church. What church? That’s uncertain, but I have big plans and big ideas. What the future holds for me is unknown, but I promise to keep you updated here.

Please add me on Facebook and please stay connected!

Your Friend in Christ,

Ryan