"Drive By" Preaching - How'd you react?

What do you think of this form of "evangelism?"

To be honest, I could not watch much more than about 4 minutes, so I don't know what happens in the latter part.

After you watch - no matter how many minutes you watch - I invite you to leave your comments... 

Being the Baptist Church

I was reading something last week that ended with this quote, “Aren't we all intrigued by Jesus? Ours will always be the role of John the Baptist; we must decrease that he might increase. This is intrigue in the greatest of mysteries!”

As I was reading the end of the article the middle part of the quote stood out “Ours will always be the role of John the Baptist.” Do you see how we are to be the “Baptist” church, yet? Read on…

John the Baptist was to prepare the way. His job was to go before and get the people ready for something in the future. The Baptist was to prepare the way of Jesus, before He came onto the scene.

Many people today have not made the commitment to follow Jesus. Several do not even know that they need Jesus. It is our job to get them ready to make that commitment. We are to “prepare the way.”

What an awesome privilege and opportunity! You see, we don’t know when a particular person will want to make their commitment to be a part of Christ’s church, but neither did, in essence, John the Baptist know when Jesus would make his mark on this world.

Jesus could have started his ministry at any given point in his life after His message was “prepared” by John the Baptist. Interestingly, the starting of Jesus’ ministry was shortly after John started to “prepare the way.”

As John the Baptist had a plan to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus, into their life, so we, too, are in part of God’s plan to prepare people for the coming of Jesus into their life. The question is, how are you going to prepare people for the greatest thing that ever happened to them? How are you going to live out and impress upon them that this is the greatest thing that ever could have and will happen to them?

“Missed It By That Much”

How often have you “missed it by that much”?

If you didn’t hear the sermon Sunday, you probably already know where the phrase was made popular…”Get Smart”.  You would hear the character played by Don Adams say to the Chief or Agent 99.  It may have been used by making up the excuse of letting the villain get away by “that much”.

Yesterday, we looked at a small section of text in the first chapter that pertains to Joseph.  For one, he learns of Mary being pregnant and is planning on trying to “resolve the matter quietly”.  For two, he is given the chance to have a “re-do” and doesn’t follow through with this, but instead, he stays with Mary and, eventually, Jesus.  Here are some applications to choose from to use this week…

1. Look for More ~ It can be easy to go in to a restaurant and have “tunnel vision”.  By that, I am meaning that you come in, you are seated, you look over the menu, you order, you receive your food/beverage, you consume, you pay, and you leave.  Where can you fit sharing Jesus in there? What about with the waitperson?  You don’t have to be real “churchy” with them, you could silently pray for that person.  You could ask God to open up the opportunity. You could ask to know if you need to talk to that person or someone else in the restaurant.  You could ask the waitperson how their day is going or if you sense it is not going well, leave a good tip and note of encouragement.
2. Stop Procrastinating ~ I used to have a book by a series called “Sweet Pickles” that was titled “I’ll Do It Tomorrow”.  It was all about procrastination, which I became very good at as I grew up – the book didn’t help me!  Too often things are put to the back burner for another day.  Too often that day becomes like the same sides of a magnet approaching each other – they repel.  So, the next day becomes the next becomes the next, etc. and we may never get around to getting it done.  Is there someone you’ve been wanting to visit with about their salvation?  Are you waiting for a “just right” moment, of which will probably never come?  Don’t delay…do it today!
3. Aim Smarter, Pull the Trigger Slower ~ You are out hunting and you have hit the jackpot on the game that you are trying to aim for.  You cannot believe this shot, the closeness of the game you are aiming at.  You get out your weapon. You are trying to aim perfectly but your anxiousness is causing your weapon to bounce.  Slow down!  Take a second to calm yourself so you can aim smarter.  Carefully aim, hold back any anxiousness so that you can have a better shot at aiming. Someone is asking you about your church and you cannot believe it!  What do you say?  Are you bold or hesitant…calm your anxieties and “pull the trigger slowly”!

Don’t miss the opportunities by “that much”…pay attention! Measure twice, cut once. is a popular phrase in carpentry.  Don’t be one of the ones that may “miss it by that much”, rather look for more, stop procrastinating, and aim smarter.

Hoping this week is one where I don’t “miss it by that much” very often!

Seeing the Soul, Not a Statistic

When you go to the doctor with an illness you are hoping to receive some form of help. That help, for example, could come through medication, physical touch, or a listening ear. Another “want” that you desire when you go to the doctor is to feel important. So, if you went to the doctor and they came in to examine you, and during the exam, made you feel uncomfortable, you’d feel like the doctor didn’t really care about you, as a person. Even if they cared about getting you well. “Bedside manners” are important to giving the doctor a good reputation in making their patients feel that they aren’t just a statistic.

This past week, I was flipping the channels, looking for something to watch, and the movie “Patch Adams” was on. It had been a long time since I had seen that movie, and the more I watched it I noticed there were some inspiring lines in the script…here’s one…

You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you'll win, no matter what the outcome.

The movie is about a man who goes to medical school because he wants to help people. His mission reminds me of Jesus’ mission – to help people. He states in Luke 19:10 that His mission is “to seek and to save the lost” (ESV). That is a “help” mission. Which is also our mission – to help people.

How would you answer this question, “How many people have you baptized?” One, two, three, maybe more? Maybe zero. Unfortunately, we can get wrapped up with statistics. How would a person in the congregation be viewed if they had baptized 25 people? You would probably esteem them highly. But sharing Jesus is not about statistics…it is about their soul.

If you look at someone to simply try to get them baptized, you may win or lose. However, if you develop a relationship with a person, help them with their problems as a person, not just to try to get them baptized, “you’ll win”.

Sharing Jesus is an awesome thing that each Christian has the privilege of doing. It shouldn’t be burdensome. Simply put, sharing Jesus is about getting to know people as people, help them when they need help, and let them see Jesus through your words, lifestyle, reactions, and “bedside manners”.

Sin is a disease. Remember, don’t just treat the disease…treat the person!

I Give Up!

Most of us have said the words "I give up". You had a task to perform and it became impossible to finish. You worked and worked but couldn't come to a solution. However, you could have been just around the corner of solving the problem or doing something great. But you never will know because you gave up.

It is not simply continuing on that is the real issue, but rather backing up, evaluating the situation and solving the problem. This brings us to this week's quote...

The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those, which fail. ~ Napoleon Hill

There is nothing wrong with coming up with a wrong answer, as long as, it is not your final answer. This week I was working on my bathroom. I was trying to get the handles off of the shower faucet. I took the set screws out and then expected the handle to just pop off. However, they didn't just pop off. After talking with two different men experienced in the field of "repair", I thought I knew what I needed to do. I tried...nothing going. Finally, they broke free, after a bit of hammering on them. I had to try to do something different than I had been for the plan to work!

I see this as a problem with life as a Christian. We try evangelizing, but no results. We try a time or two more (if you're lucky), still no results. How likely are you to continue on? Probably not very much. Don't think of evangelizing as a "bible study", but rather think of it as any time/way you share Jesus. I challenge you to continue on - but trying different approaches.

Whatever your endeavors, be persistent and evaluate what you did and see how the next one can be even better.

Backing up and looking at where I've been to improve the future...AND working on not "giving up"~

Monday Mentionings: Words of Wisdom From the Workshop - Part II

If you've never been to the Tulsa Workshop or you haven't been in a long time, you really need to go. It is a great time to be in an "out of the ordinary" environment to get pumped about your faith. Whether you are one who is pumped through the vocalized word, singing, or seeing several young people devote themselves to go to another country to serve Him, it all happens at Tulsa!

Where are you at when you are reading this? Where you are at, that is where the church is located at during this particular moment in history. As you are reading this, the health of the church depends on how healthy your heart is. Each of these deal with today's points of applications to yesterday's lesson...

1. "The Church Has Left the Building" - Rick Atchley - As I said earlier, where you're at is where the church is at, right now. Each one of us holds on to a part of the net that we are casting in order to try to "catch" others. That net is spread wide, across our area. Did you cast your part of the net today, or did you keep hold of it? I hope to cast it more than once, depending on who God sends me to or sends to me today. Remember to cast your part of the net with each encounter you experience!
2. "Heart Matters" - Buddy Bell - Ever felt like you were being a very superficial Christian? Maybe it was because you were having a rough week or because you felt the world closing in on you. You would go through the motions, just to try to make it to the next day or week. Superficial Christianity is not true Christianity. We may be able to make it through one week alright, but being that way week after week will cause us to fall away from God and not toward Him. What is in your heart is what truly shows the how much you trust, rely, internalize, and love God. Simply thinking about how you will share Jesus today/this week will show what is in your heart. Do you trust in Him to give you the words to say? Do you rely on Him to direct a "fertile soil" heart to you? Do you internalize the joy that comes from sharing Him? Do you love Him enough to participate in the luxury of sharing your faith with someone else? Your actions show your heart...what will your heart "do" for Him today?

I am still being surprised by God...regularly! It is awesome to see how much God puts in my path on a regular basis. I am giddy each day as I can't wait to see what is going to happen that day. How about you? How does God show up in your life...who does He bring forth?

Continually Blessed ~

E-mail Encouragement: Becoming a Prophet

Some may define it as a pessimist, where others, a realist. Either way, unfortunately, I tend to look at some things in such a way as to not get my balloon popped. I am thankful that my wife is an optimist and can keep me from being a rut when it comes to goal setting.

With that being said, this week’s quote hit home with me…

If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of becoming a prophet. ~ Isaac Bashevis Singer

Recently, I gave a group of people an article that starts off with the sentence “Fear kills vision!” When it comes to doing things for God, if we have fear about it, then we will stop looking for the possibilities it will bring if we do it. If there was someone you were wanting to share Jesus with, but you kept saying negative things about trying – you wouldn’t have the vision to see past your fears. It would also make you a pretty good prophet – because you would talk yourself out of trying.

Who will be in your path today that you can share Jesus with (in whatever way)? The answer for most is “I don’t know.” The response, then, is to pay attention to everyone you come in contact with – they may be the one you were meant to share with that day. But, if you say bad things about sharing with someone, then you will most likely, and unfortunately, become a prophet!

Especially in this case, don’t become a prophet by saying negative things about the opportunities God gives to share about Jesus! Instead, say positive things about those opportunities, and become a prophet that way!

May God richly bless the end of your week!!!

Looking forward to today’s open doors ~

E-mail Encouragement: Making a Courageous Decision

Christmas is over and that means 2008 is just around the corner. Are you one who makes a resolution? Have you ever been able to keep any? Are you making any for next year? What was your favorite thing you received?

I enjoy "feel good" movies. In each "feel good" movie, there is a point at which the "hero" or "heroes" do something which turns the tide for the rest of the film. The result is the success that makes the movie identified as "feel good". Each of us live a "movie"...what will you do to turn the tide? This brings us to this week's quote...

In every success story, you find someone who has made a courageous decision. ~ Peter F. Drucker

I am greatly affected by teachers/coaches/leaders that do things to impact others. The quote holds true to most movies that fall into this category. There is a point in the movie which a character will do something that seems crazy, but in fact, is very courageous. No one has done anything like "that" before (whatever the task in the particular movie) and it makes a world of difference.

We have opportunities given to us each day, maybe each moment, to make an impact in someone else's life. Whether it is your spouse, family member, co-worker, peer, friend, or anyone else you're around.

As 2008 approaches, what will you do with the opportunities God gives you to make a "courageous decision" and create your "success" story? May you use the opportunities given to share Jesus in practical ways!

Blessings ~

Monday Mentionings: God Works By His Own Clock - Luke 1:5-20

Our culture is growing more accustomed to not having to wait on things. With the explosion of cell phone use, specifically amongst high school students, they can’t even wait 44 minutes (the length of a class) to talk to a friend because, if they can, they try to get away with sending a text message during class. Our need to know an answer is infected with impatience. This spreads into how we deal with God. We want to have the answer immediately…but God works by His own clock. Here are some applications to choose from regarding yesterday’s sermon…

1. If you were picking someone to bear a child, your pick wouldn’t typically be someone who had been barren. God did. He picked an unlikely person to bring John into the world. You may think you’re an unlikely person to carry out what God has in store, but you may just be surprised at what happens. Pray that you will be open and willing to carry out what God sends your way!
2. I would rather wait through many cycles of stoplights than sit and try to turn left, crossing traffic, on a busy street. With the stoplights I know what is going to happen, with the other I don’t know when my chance to “go” will be. However, probably the times when I “don’t know what will happen” is when God is going to do something with me. As you go through your week, look for the most unlikely times to have God send someone to you or you are sent to someone who is in need of something you have been selected to provide.
3. What have you been asking God for that He hasn’t given you the answer you requested? Has He provided a clear answer that is opposite? Or somewhere in the middle? Sometimes God may give you an unlikely answer – one you didn’t expect. Maybe that is because it was not His Will to answer in the way you wanted. Maybe it was because you were not specific in your prayer, so your answer was as general as your prayer. Either way, we can learn to ask specifically, not generally. Ask persistently, not conveniently.
4. God is a “dot connector”. He works out situations in ways we can’t fathom. Part of the reason we can’t fathom the ways He works the situations out is because they often overlap with more than just our individual life. People’s paths overlap in various ways and layers. Somewhere in there He allows us to be a dot that, hopefully, brings them closer to Jesus. Let us not be like Zechariah to be stricken with an unlikely condition when he couldn’t speak, but look at each situation as God using us for something good. Remember, a hopeless situation could just be a setup for you to be used as a mighty instrument in God’s Kingdom!!!

God is working things out according to His clock, which keeps perfect time and the batteries never run out. Your requests and situations may or may not work out the way you would like. Regardless, understand that God can use you where you’re at, at any given time. As you understand this, may you be freed from any barricade that may keep your faith from being fresh!!!

May your faith be continually refreshed ~