Just Say "Hi"

Once I heard a very successful missionary talk. In fact he had the entire sermon to speak. Well, we expected something, but not what he told us.

First he was involved in getting youth in a local college interested in Christianity. He did this by going down to college at night and listening to them. Many of them were from other countries and he was interested in what is called cross cultural ministry. To succeed he had to be in their court and know what their issues were. In time there was a breakthrough.

He had a neighbor from a foreign country and the missionary went across the street. Later the man told him "you were the only one who came over." This man was humble about all his achievements.

"Take out a pen," he said with a lift to his voice, "and I will let you know my great secret."

Those who were dozing woke up and scrambled for iPhones or paper. He let us get ready, then he said with a twinkle and a wave. "You just go across the street and say "Hi" !

There was an a bit of disquiet in the listeners. Could it be that simple? Had we ever tried it? What about the person who hadn't said a word to us? What about cultural differences? What about age/sex differences.

It is very easy to be too polite to bother anyone. One day Jesus was sitting by a well thirsty. A Samaritan woman came with her bucket. He asked her for a drink. She was shocked because Jews did not speak to Samaritans. He proceeded anyway and those of you who know the story know what happened.....she discovered living water that satisfied her.

Jesus said "hi" by asking her for water!

A recent Barnard study has just reported that 95 percent of Christians today will go to their death without telling another about Jesus, The Lord. Don't complicate things or delegate to the clergy this job. Your job is to walk across the street and say HELLO!

Greatness and Singleness of Mind

Recently, I saw an older movie on the life of JS Bach. Although I have appreciated his music for years and I am writing and listening to him, I had no idea of his very difficult life.

Orphaned young. A rather mean older brother. Various schools. Then marriage, children and the death of his young wife. Music was what he devoted himself to and especially composition. It seems to me that one of the qualities of greatness is a singleness of purpose no matter what the circumstances. 

In picking a second wife, JS was careful to choose one who loved music and also supported him. Being a genius as he is, JS needed the person to believed in, listened to, and encouraged him. Because when he had a life directing purpose, only few people will be able to understand him.

The Lord Jesus, the Christ, had one purpose. That purpose was to please the Father and go do his will. His disciples couldn't understand when that purpose led him to go to the cross. He had to go alone because he knew he had to redeem the lost world back to the Father, and that way, was going to cost him his own life and his blood shed out for many.

What I continue to be amazed by is that part, means that once we accept the cross for ourselves as the way back to God, wonderful things happen to us. We start to belong to this Heavenly Father. We start to hunger to learn more from the Bible and we want to communicate via prayer. So we have new desires. 

I trust that some of you who recently have accepted the Savior's death on the cross may be  experiencing these new holy desires. That is good news for you have something inside you that will change you into the person God intended you to be. God will work with you through the years to discard old purposes that you thought were your life. 

As you let these go and stay close to the Lord he will show you who you are and what He has planned for you to do.

Remember Easter

We can never get away from Christs death by crucifixion. It is central to true Christian belief. That Jesus willingly allowed himself to be put to death on that cruel cross in the most humiliating and horrifying death imaginable. Every breath was agony. His nail pierced hands and feet were incredibly painful. This lungs gasped for air as he fought on the cross, his scor back reacted to the rough wood of the cross. His head throbbed With the crown of thorns. His disciples deserted him. The crowds watching and mocking him.

Two criminals hung beside him. A Roman guard watched the crucifixion. Jesus at anytime could have called out and been rescued, Why didn't he? First, Jesus had prayed in the garden that this cup be taken from him, but there was no answer and the disciples fell asleep while his soul became
filled with sorrow. Jesus wanted and always obeyed.

Second, love nailed him to the cross for the duration because he knew suffering was in scripture for the messiah. As God in the flesh Jesus knew as much as he could but Jesus did not expect the moment of total desertion when he no longer felt Gods presence Jesus cried out MY GOD, MY GOD. WHY HAS THOU FORSAKEN ME?

This was the worst pain of all. In that dark but divine moment before Jesus gave up the ghost, God could not be felt because Jesus who was sinless took on ALL the sins of the world and became the only perfect sacrifice ever made

That's why THE CROSS OF CHRIST must always be lifted up. To some this may sound foolish, but to others it is the door to freedom and Communication with a holy God.

Friends

Do you remember way back to elementary school when at some point you were asked this question.Do you want to be friends? That was a pivotal moment that changed who you sat with at recess, who you shared secrets with, who you listened to.

Friends as we grow up are very important especially those who have known us for years. When starting a new Project Lost Sheep group I like to see people who are friends join in. Why? Because they know each other, trust each other and will stay behind each other during times of waiting
for the action to happen.

Friends are different from clients or business associates. Friends know us outside work. They know about our families. They know our weak spots and still love us. We need to have affirmation and connection with others and especially in the body of Christ we need to be friends that stick close.

Jesus commanded his followers to LOVE ONE ANOTHER as he had loved. Love is the basis of ministry together. We can follow programs or we can grow up together in our relationships with each other by spending time with each other, praying with each other, crying with each other.

Real friends will show up at a funeral where you are hurting. Real friends don't run away when something bad happens. They come closer and feel your pain.

Friends will cost you time. Friends will sometimes hurt your feelings as you have hurt others but friends are essential to being a thriving human being. If you climb to the top of the heap and there is no one there you will experience a great hole of loneliness. If you have no time to be real to someone along the way you are missing the way.

Take time to make a friend or two along the way. They will bring balance and perspective to you and you to them.

THERE IS A FRIEND THAT STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.

Forgiveness

This is such a touching video of forgiveness. Please click on the blue button to view the video. You will love this. God bless you.


Forgiveness from Menlo Church on Vimeo.

Friends

Do you remember way back to elementary school when at some point you were asked this question: "Do you want to be friends?" That was a pivotal moment that changed who you sat with at recess, who you shared secrets with and who you listened to.

Friends as we grow up are very important especially those who have known us for years. When starting a new Project Lost Sheep group I like to see people who are friends join in. Why? Because they know each other, trust each other and will stay behind each other during times of waiting
for the action to happen.

Friends are different from clients or business associates. Friends know us outside work. They know about our families. They know our weak spots and still love us. We need to have affirmation and connection with others and especially in the body of Christ we need to be friends that stick close.

Jesus commanded his followers to LOVE ONE ANOTHER as he had loved. Love is the basis of ministry together. We can follow programs or we can grow up together in our relationships with each other by spending time with each other, praying with each other, crying with each other. Real friends will show up at a funeral where you are hurting. Real friends don't run away when something bad happens. They come closer and feel your pain.

Friends will cost you time. Friends will sometimes hurt your feelings as you have hurt others but friends are essential to being a thriving human being. If you climb to the top of the heap and there is no one there you will experience a great hole of loneliness. If you have no time to be real to someone along the way you are missing the way.

Take time to make a friend or two along the way. They will bring balance and perspective to you and you to them.

THERE IS A FRIEND THAT STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.

A Taste of Pie

If a pie is in the making there usually is a scrap of crust. I don't bake pies but I do make a little treat with the extra. I flatten in out to a good bite sized piece and sprinkle it with sugar and cinnamon and then put it in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

When it comes out, I sip a little coffee and enjoy the reclaimed crust. It never fails to give me a sense of comfort. You ask why? Because when I came home from school as a very hungry preteen my sweet grandmother always had the extra scraps ready to bake for me.

This fresh baked treat was a taste of kindness I still feel today. Grandmother knew how to show me love. Looking back I know she not only baked treats but she prayed for me to follow her in faith.

Eventually I did. Never underestimate what a small kindness plus prayer now may reap later in someone's life. Love is kind. Put that in your life and get into step with the spirit of God!

Bravely into 2015

Walking in snow is quiet. I am bundled up after Christmas. Getting used to the cold takes some time. Snow changes how everything looks. The golf course is now a snow walking field. Golfers are inside perfecting their shots or thinking about it.

The golf course is like a big Christmas present to explore. And am surprised how a blanket of snow changes the scenery.

I come back inside and find a song called SING NOEL by a group called Newsong from their album, Christmas Shoes. It is fresh and beautiful and just what I need to hear today.

We need new songs and we need Christmas Shoes. We need to walk out into this world different because we have had a new touch of Christmas. We need to feel different, walk with a light step and make music in our hearts that is real and fresh.

Like a new born baby, we long for the nurturing moments that a real encounter with the
Christ of Christmas gives.  So take time again to slow down and be amazed at the miracle of God, the wonder of a new song.

Look down at your feet and be ready to step out bravely into 2015!