Greetings,
I love adventure. I like to go places that I have never been and see things that I have never witnessed in person. I love to experience different foods, smells and sounds and try to imagine what it would be like if all of these things were normal to me, as if I had grown up in this strange place. The adventure that I love most is meeting people. I love going to small towns and learning about what the locals like and what they complain about. I enjoy the search and discovery of those stories that are only common knowledge to those that live there.
It is this interest that drives me to be comfortable talking with strangers. Exploring where people come from and how their lives have shaped their worldview. That discovery is really fun for me. I have been told that I ask a lot of questions, and I do. It is not without motive. My goal is to find out what motivates people and challenge them to make the most out of their lives.
Until this last year, Yvonne had two living great-grandmothers. And “great” only beings to describe them. They were amazing ladies with great stories. I loved to sit with them at family functions and ask questions about their childhood and life, the struggles and the beauty, the things that drove them crazy about their late husbands and the things that they adored in them. I would mine for information and details that would bring their experiences to life within my imagination.
Learning about people is fascinating and it is important if you want to really see Jesus transform a person's life. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Introducing a person to Jesus is a very important thing and if the motivation is simply to tell them out of obligation and not out of genuine concern and love, there is a great disconnect. The gospel should permeate everything. It is because of His love that we can love. The gospel is the power to transform nations and individuals, it can bring the worst of humanity to its knees in repentance and can soften the heart of the most powerful men.
Sharing the gospel is the adventure. Wherever it leads you. It is the greatest and noblest of tasks. Sharing your faith can and should happen right where you live and the Holy Spirit will guide you from there. Show people that you genuinely care and share the gospel with them.
Matthew 28:18-20 ~ "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
Love ya,
Chris
Greetings,
There are a lot of people talking right now about how they are better than so and so and how they would be better for our state, county or city. Boasting about their record, inflating the numbers and trying to paint themselves in the best possible light while painting the opposition in the most dismal light. Nothing says "joy to the world" like dragging someone's character through the public mud. I can’t think of anything more that I want to begin this holiday season with than good old fashioned smear campaigns and slander ads.
The many platforms that we have today allow each of us to publicly declare either our foolishness or our wisdom. Proverbs tells us that, "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion," (18:2) and "A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back," (29:11).
It's sad to see how angry people have become and how much laughter has given way to resentment. I read recently that the average person laughs 17 times a day. It is important to be able to laugh and sometimes our own foolishness is where we should place some laughter. Do you get offended easily? Try not taking yourself so seriously. Are you easily angered? Try changing your perspective and lighten up.
Thank God that this election is almost over! Now we can look forward to the next two years of even louder smear campaigns and foolishness. If you are like me, you find this stuff all to be tiresome. I want to vote for people that love God and follow his directions. Unfortunately, we can’t expect people who don’t know God to act according to wisdom and godliness. Psalm 14:1 reminds us that, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good."
The great news is no matter who is elected, it is our job to pray for them. Because ultimately, God is in control (Romans 13:1 - "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.")
Thank you Lord, for providing the world with leaders. I pray that you would turn the heart of each leader to you and that you would reign and rule in their heart. Father, may we not become fools and so lose the witness that we have to those that need you. Teach us to be wise, tame our tongue, laugh a lot, pray and represent Jesus well to our community. We love you Lord!!! Amen.
Love ya,
Chris
Greetings,
Each year on Halloween, children will do something that would otherwise be extremely uncomfortable for most of us--walk around the neighborhood, knock on people's doors, and engage in conversations with strangers. One of the reasons this seems so foreign to us during the rest of the year is that, as a society, we rarely visit with our neighbors. Halloween is one of those few opportunities where neighbors will eagerly knock on our door!
Some people have a real problem with Halloween and I understand that. But the history of All Hallows Eve is not all dark and stormy. It began as the evening before all hallows day or all saints day, which was a Christian celebration to remember the martyred and the departed saints or hallows (the archaic term for saints).
Martyrs are not a thing of the past. In fact there have been 900,000 people across the globe killed for their Christian faith in the last 10 years. There have been continued attacks on believers in Nigeria in a small town call Jos. Islamic militants have been knocking on doors and pulling people from their homes in order to kill them. On Sept 27th of this year the Fulani Islamic militants killed 20 people in their homes.
It could be a beautiful thing if the church brought back this custom of remembering martyrs again during this day, and celebrating those that were faithful even to death. You could start by taking some time to honor that in your home. Meanwhile, let's shine our lights brightly among our neighbors and make the most of this opportunity. Become the house in the neighborhood that gives out the best candy and let the kids in the neighborhood know who you are. You could say, “Happy All Hallows Eve!” Or you could educate them by telling the kids that more than 90,000 people in the last year have died because of their faith in Jesus, that’s one person about every 6 seconds… er, maybe don’t say that. Maybe just give them some good candy and mention how cute they look and watch for divine opportunities to show God's love to your neighbors.
Matthew 5:16 tell us, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Love ya,
Chris