There In Our Midst

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." - Matthew 18:20 KJV

Yesterday I was at Starbucks with a few brothers in Christ who I often evangelize with. One of them had been a missionary in Australia for a few years. He told us a story about a man in one of the Churchs there that had a chalk ministry. He didn't speak well because of years of working in harsh conditions. This man went all around the city he lived in and wrote 'ETERNITY' down on the side walks. A news agency went looking for who was doing this and when they found him they did a big 'write up' on his life.

We had never heard this particular story and of course in my mind I starting thinking about present day applications. Could this, or something like it, be done in my city? How would that work?

The missionary gets a video call from Australia. He is thrilled to talk to the man and so are we. This man was there for some of the other stories we had heard many times.

Then the man says something like, 'I think I'm going to start a chalk ministry. Remember old so and so and how he used to write on the side walks? I think I may start doing that here.' We all explode in 'Wows' and tell him that we just heard that story for the first time twenty minutes before he called.

God is there when we meet. He Is letting us in on secret things in interesting ways.

We all knew that was God. If His 'name' (identity, character, nature, etc...) are why we are together He Is there also. He gives us answers to questions we have not formed yet in our minds. The communication of the Word of God clarifies our individual and 'corporate' (group) relationships with Him. Prayers uttered in those settings have the context of Christ being there listening and participating in the group dynamic.

I might say to one of the guys there, 'Would you look at my car before we leave? I need your input.' and he would say yes or no but likely yes.

We say to God, 'Would you heal my sister before we leave?' and He might just say yes. Yes and Amen. He Is right there.

"Can two walk together without agreeing to meet? " - Amos 3:3 CSB

We agreed to meet in Jesus' name and He showed up. Thank you God.

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Are They A Soul Winner?

"As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." - 2 Timothy 4:5 ESV

I see a finger pointing right at me in this passage.

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." - 2 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV

A teacher who teaches but doesn't evangelize isn't worth very much. You may say, 'That isn't their ministry'... perhaps but if that is so I don't need to be their student. They may be able to teach you some things but they can't teach you the things that will allow you to 'fulfill your ministry'.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." - 1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV

The internet isn't the place to find this out. Going out on the street with the person is where you will see this. Watching them greet people at the door and loving them is where you will see this. 

I often hear these quotes that sound good but I wonder... 'Is this person a soul winner or just a page turner?'... until I get that question answered I take it all 'with a grain of salt.'

I don't think any of us need two dozen teachers... just a few who win souls.

If I stop evangelizing stop listening to me. It will just be past tense and theoretical. I hope to win the nurse to Christ who is wiping the sweat off my brow on my deathbed. If that changes read someone else's posts that has that mindset.

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A Good Weekend

This weekend was so interesting...

There were some truly frustrating times... traffic... I missed a memorial service for a person I care deeply for... I got there so late that everyone was gone and I had to ask the security guard to unlock a door so I could use the restroom.... then back out into angry drivers... not feeling well... several demoralizing things like that... 

Then there were also some sublime times that were just so good... Church today... worship... eating pieces of a roasting pig while celebrating someone's birthday... two people in fact... simple times of just giving a person a hug and meeting her grandbaby... kind exchanges with strangers on the boardwalk with a group out evangelizing... singing a hymn off-key as we walked back to our car in the cool air with the sun shining on the Chesapeake bay right there... sitting out in front of Starbucks with Terry Therres and other men whose shoes I am not worthy to tie... relaxing enjoying the coffee and company while wondering at the nearness of Christ's return... 

I was at a meeting at a Panera bread and few us us were speaking about the Bible and a woman with her husband came up to us to ask what Church we attended because she overheard us... She wanted to go where we go because of things we said... I am so humbled and broken by that.

Life is hard but good. To learn, live, repent and then rejoice that I am forgiven. To love. To be humiliated because I need my dirty feet washed again but to also rejoice that I can tell people that the King of Glory is willing to wash their feet if they will just come to Him.

To Love and be loved. I am so grateful.

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Rereading Romans Chapter 12

Reading Romans 12 over and over again.

Wow.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:1-21 ESV

I see the first and last verse in this chapter as bookend. They hold the sandwich together. Both ideas need to be kept in mind in order to even attempt to pick any of this up. Bitterness and comparison can happen if we try to do any of this with out those two concepts in mind.

These two ideas:

- We worship God through 'presenting our bodies for action'.

- Evil seeks to overcome us and others. This worship can overcome evil in the world. 

I see an order here. Right after 'mind renewal' is having the humility to be a part of a group of people joined in this common cause. Then he speaks of conduct done among those people. Then conduct done to everyone else. Lastly, he speaks of love for ones enemies. Each thing orients us for the next thing. 

Oh God... renew us in our thinking today. As we re-read this chapter give us creativity in allying it. We fix our eyes on Jesus. This chapter is a description of His ministry. We want to live as an extension of that. Jesus is our Shepard. He leads us as overcomers into victory over darkness. Thank you God. Thank You. Thank You.  

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The Eyes Of A Parent

I'm thinking about bad parents and good parents. Some people love their children in wisdom and others have little capacity for love. A child sees their reflection in the eyes of their parents and sometimes the reflection they see is tainted and untrue.

"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me." - John 8:44-45 ESV

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." - John 14:1-3 ESV

The Devil is a bad Father. His children never find out who they really are. They never know where they stand. He is a gas-lighting narcissist. He is a liar.

God is a good Father. He is 'The Good Father'. In His eyes you discover who you are. You like how you look there. If you forget where you stand He reassures you. You are loved. When you go far away and come back He runs out to greet you and pile on gifts you don't deserve that He has set aside just for you.

You and i don't really know who we are. We must discover who we really are in kind loving eyes that are wise. Some people never discover their identity. They just run from one thing to the next looking to fill a hole that grows ever larger.

Don't forget to look up today and make sure you stay in touch with those wise humans on Earth that care for your soul. They are rare treasures... and remember... the Devil is a liar.

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