Welcoming...

Here are some observations/ experiences/ opinions that I have developed about people welcoming one another and being generally friendly.

• When I visit churches that are not my own church, I feel most welcomed in African-American congregations (even though I am often the only Caucasian present.
• Christians, in general, love to reach to others as long as they come to church and it takes minimal effort on our part.
• We love to welcome people who look like us, think like us and behave like us.
• We love to be friendly to people in our own social and financial circles.
• Most people love it if you are friendly and welcoming to them.

The problem with all these things is that we are too inconsistent. We love to think that we are welcoming, often without actually being welcoming.

There are large numbers of people in every community who are open to our invitations and advances. If we are willing to be welcoming and open, there are plenty of people who are accepting of us.

• There are the elderly who have been forgotten by family and who have out-lived their friends. They are waiting for you and I to be friendly to them.
• There are the homeless, poor and drug addicts who feel as though no one gives them a chance. We should be willing to be open to them. Welcome and care for all types of people.
• There are young people who feel alienated and ignored by their elders. We ought to treat young people as for real humans, not as children who need our constant protection, oversight and rules.
• There are people who look different that we do. We should be open and accepting of all the people who are children of God.

So, to everyone, I say: WELCOME.

The World Goes 'Round

So I have been thinking a lot about people, love, relationships and that sort of thing. Life is very complicated, and people are the largest complicating factor. Just when you have your relationships figured out, something changes in one of them that ultimately effects all of them. I think this is true for everyone except for the prisoner in solitary confinement and the hermit on a deserted tropical island.

As usual, I have tried to make sure that my thinking has not been meaningless rambling around in my head. I am trying to come to conclusions. I want to understand my relationships and how they work. I want them all to be better. To that end, I have made some observations and some decisions.

• I should/ will love as many people as I can. This is true of people I already know and new people that I will meet. If it is true that love makes the world go around, I should do my part. I will be a lover of people.
• There will always be time for my family and people that I truly love. There are a couple of implications in this statement. First of all, I cannot, and will not, be inconvenienced by my inner-circle. That is, they cannot put me out. They are a priority for me. Secondly, Since they are a priority, even if they have to wait because of some other issues, they will always be important to me. They will get their time and attention, even if they have to wait a little while.
• New people in my life may not wait for me to get around to caring for them. There is probably a limited time-window for new people. People that I already have relationships with know that I will be there. New people may not. They may need attention and love right away.
• I should love everyone, all the time. This is true even of people that I do not like. All people are made in God's image. Every individual is one that I should care about and love.

To Each His Own

I realized awhile back that I do not treat everyone the same. I have always felt like I was an open-minded person with very few prejudices. I think that all people are made in the image of God and have great value as his children. I have always believed and taught these things. I am proud to be a citizen of a country that has as a cornerstone of its heritage that all men are created equal.

And then it hit me that I have favorites. There are some people that I like better than others. In fact, there are some people that I do not like at all. I do not like admitting that, but there is nothing that I can do about it. My friend describes such people as EGR's- Extra Grace Required. These people are different from my favorites not because they are inherently different, but because of the way they respond to me and the way I operate.

• I play favorites with those people for whom I am a favorite. That is to say, when I give attention to someone, if they repay that attention, I remember that.
• I have an agenda for my life. There are things that I want to accomplish for myself, my family and the people around me. I respect people- and invest in people- who help me to accomplish these goals.
• There are some people who have great potential, and are not afraid to meet that potential. They take chances and work to do God's work. People with great potential will get more of my attention.
• Some people have a lot of work to do. Their lives are confusing, messy, hard and somewhat difficult for me to believe. These people get more of my attention.
• In am willing to invest my time and energy in those people who are willing to spend their time and energy with me.
• I give more time and attention to people who are especially vulnerable. That is, they are hurt, rejected or needy in some way. They have needs that I can work toward meeting.
• I treat people differently who want to be treated differently.

So, I will not feel bad about the time I spend with some people. They are the people who want to spend time with me. I will continue to love those who love and long to be loved. I will lead those who want to be led. I will care for those who wish to be cared for and care for me in turn. I will invest in those in whom we will see the most return.

The Three L's

Three things:

First of all, a significant contributing factor to our current economic difficulties in the US is the selfishness of individuals. Greed has caused people to look out only for themselves and their own interests. Consequently, people have bankrupted themselves trying to get ahead (or catch up). Meanwhile, millions of Americans are doing alright and are relatively unconcerned about those around them and their struggles.

Secondly, if everyone would pay attention to the needs of others, and work toward meeting those needs, everyone would be cared for. I know that this sounds Marxist, but it is a simple solution to a very complicated problem.

Finally, for those who consider themselves Christians, caring for others is a simple sign of obedience to the teachings of Jesus. He taught us to give to the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked and more.

So here are some thoughts. Take them as you like. This is just my attempt to highlight what I call the three l's.

• The Least. We should always be on the lookout for people who are "under-resourced." This is the new way to talk about the poor. People who are marginalized by our society are the most vulnerable not only to poverty, but also to poor health, inadequate health care, inadequate social services, hunger and insufficient housing (this list could go much longer).
• The Last. There are some people who just always get pushed out of the way. It may have nothing to do with economic vulnerability, but everything to do with health issues, mental health concerns, social criteria or family situation. Unfortunately, race, ethnicity, gender, religion and education level still play a very important part in this problem.
• The Lost. As a Christian, one of my missions is to get as many people to follow Jesus as I can. A previous generation of Christians called these people the lost. Jesus said that his mission was to save the lost. My purpose is to reach out to those who do not yet have a relationship with Christ.

It's a tall order. I am sure that this one will not be completed in my lifetime. But, it is definitely something that I should be working on and working toward. Everyone, Christian or not, should be reaching out with love and acceptance to the least, the last and the lost.

An Open Letter to Lily

Dear Lily,

You recently came to me with some interesting questions. Unfortunately, I did not feel like I got the opportunity to answer you properly. This note will hopefully fix that problem. It will make me feel better at least.

The gist of your questions, as I remember and understand them, was "Do people who are not Christians go to heaven?" There were some specifics to your questioning that are not dealt with here, but the general idea is the same. I would like to answer you by asking (and answering) three questions of my own.

• Who are Christians? This is the problem, isn't it? For you and I are not qualified to judge the spiritual commitment of another. And even if we were, we are in no position to declare someone right or wrong. But, we believe what we believe. We believe it because it seems right. There is evidence to support our faith and we think that it is true. That means that we have begun judging. If my faith is right, then someone else's faith is necessarily wrong. Your question had to do with Mormons, and we are often asked questions about Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, Seventh Day Adventists and others whose beliefs seem different from our own. My recommendation to you is that you decide what it is that you believe, what is important for your faith, and then to begin to evaluate it in relation to the beliefs of others.
• Who gets to go to heaven? This question gets to the heart of the issue. If my beliefs are right, then someone else must be wrong. For example, Jesus cannot be the Son of God and only a good teacher and example for us to follow. He must be one or the other. I believe that we must believe in Jesus as God to get to heaven. Therefore, those who do not believe that must not get to go to heaven.
• How should we relate to others? Here is where it gets complicated. I do not have to believe what Mormons do, and they do not have to believe like me. And if we choose to disagree, we can be civil and loving to one another. Just because someone disagrees with me does not mean that I should- or ever would- commit them to hell. I need to offer them love, understanding and patience. More people will be won to my way of thinking through grace and peace than through argument and antagonism.

I am not sure if this will help you, but it does help me to systematize my thoughts. I hope that you can find peace with your questions, your friends and your faith.

God bless you.

Uncle Dewey

How it Starts

I have a friend who is not particularly religious. He is a good person. He values honesty, integrity and loyalty. He does not use foul language or have any of the traditional sinful vices. He doesn't drink, smoke, gamble or use drugs. He has no need for religion or God. He thinks that he is an atheist, but I am not sure. It is not that he rejects God, it is just that he doesn't see a need for God.


Recently he came to me overcome with guilt. I will not go into details about his "sin," it is sufficient to say that he felt bad for what he had done. I am not sure that he would call it sin, but to the average religious person, to nearly all Christians, it would be considered sin.


This is a great place for him to consider re-evaluating his views on God, faith, religion and sin. There is no question that he is suffering from a guilty conscience. But why? If there is no God, why feel bad about violating God's rules? Why should anyone ever feel guilty for anything. The plain and simple answer is that we know we sin. We know that we mess up. There is a standard of behavior that is built into us and when we do not live up to it God sends us a warning message. That message comes in the form of a guilty conscience.

First of all, guilt comes because we have done something wrong. We can only do wrong if we are aware that some things are right. That is, if there are no values in life, no good, no bad, no beauty, there is no need for guilt.

Guilt is the result of doing something that is bad, or not doing something that we should do, that we know to be good. Our guilt, the bad feelings that we get when we are in violation of anything good, is a gift from God. This is foundational to the views of most Christians and nearly all religious people around the world. If there are no absolute values, there is no guilt. Therefore, the presence of guilt seems to imply that there is a definite standard for right and wrong.

I do not believe that right and wrong are arbitrary designations based on what is popular or positive. Right comes from God. Wrong does not. We can agree on what is right because we all come from the same place- morally at least. We all know that murder is bad and that caring for your children is good. We know this because a higher power- God- instilled those values in us.

Guilt comes because we have violated God's order. Guilt is not a human invention and it is not administered by humans. God dispenses guilt to those who need it.

So, I say to my friend who is suffering today, embrace your guilt. It is a gift from God. Evaluate where you have gone wrong. Find out how to make it right. Change your life to avoid those mistakes in the future. And thank God for setting you on the right path.

Programs I'd Like to Try

I have always tried to be a person who thinks creatively. For the most part, I think that I have succeeded. I am always looking for new ways to do old things. New routes to get to old places. New things to try. I like to go to new restaurants, listen to new music and try new television programs. I believe that if no one else has tried something, that maybe I should. If someone else has had success with a particular thing, I want to try it, but in my own way.

I am not exactly a maverick, but I want to be new, exciting and different. I think that originality and creativity cause excitement and growth. Well, I have some ideas that some day I will try. These are things that I am not doing now, or have not tried yet just because there is not enough time. But some day there will be. These three things are specifically designed to reach new people with the message of Jesus. (There are a hundred other new things that I would like to try just for the sake of trying them.)

• Movie Club. It has been said that modern theology is being created in your local movie house. I would love to organize a group to go to movies together about once a month. After the movie the group would retire to a coffee shop or ice cream parlor to discuss the film, and to specifically address the spiritual implications of it.
• Book Group. As a person who loves reading, and who loves to talk about what he is reading, I would love to have a book discussion group that focuses on reading "secular" books, but with an eye toward spiritual content. This group would be open to all, but would give Christians a chance to share their particular perspective on modern literature.
• Dinner Parties. This program would have to be a somewhat closed group. We would eat at different homes, restaurants or have progressive dinners. I believe that 'real' things happen as people eat together. Lives can be changed in this program, and quickly.

How to Think Like a Christian About Changing the World

It's too big a topic. It is definitely too big a challenge. There is no way that Christians- or anyone for that matter- can legitimately think that they will change the world. There is too much world that needs to be changed and I am only one person, after all. Who do I think I am?

There is a lot to do. There are AIDS orphans, starving refugees, global warming, racial profiling, sexual slavery, domestic abuse, drug addiction, disease, natural disasters, political oppression, civil unrest, rampant crime, imperialistic regimes, pirates on the high seas, and if that isn't enough, sometimes I get a hangnail. Sometimes I just want to give up. 

All too often that is just what happens. We know that bad things happen and that there are injustices all around the world, including our own neighborhoods, but we insulate ourselves from the consequences and the implications of it.

So when the infomercial about the starving children comes on the television, I change the channel as quickly as I can so I do not have the opportunity to get uncomfortable. When someone reminds me how much food I waste while others are dying of starvation, I rationalize that I could not send my leftovers to Africa anyway. What am I supposed to do, anyway?

First of all, we need to change the way we think. It was Charles Sheldon in his novel, In His Steps, who coined the question, What would Jesus do? We need to start thinking like Jesus thinks. We need to consider the needs, desires, hurts and hungers of others. We need to think about those in our homes, in our communities and around the world.

We should be thinking about how our actions effect others. We should think about how our lack of action effects others. You and I should begin being thoughtful about all that we do. Let us consider whether our actions are consistent with those of Jesus.

Secondly, like Jesus, we ought to begin placing the needs of others before our own. Jesus taught that the Son of Man came to serve others. We should be serving others. We need to be putting the needs of others before our own needs.

We also need to be consistent in our lives. It is not enough to think about changing the world. We need to do more than think of others' needs on Sundays. We must live lives of service on a regular basis. There is a great need for consistency in our lives.

We can never get the idea that our efforts are insignificant. Changing the world will take a long time. It will seem like nothing is happening. Do not give up. Do not think that you are not making a difference. The world is changed one life at a time. Our efforts are measured one day at a time. Remember that Martin Luther King, Jr. was not the great national civil rights leader when he preached his first sermon. It took time.

Finally, all those who would make a difference in the world must be committed to a life of changing the world. That is, we cannot get bored with our task. We must not be distracted when things get difficult. We can never quit, no matter how long change takes. We cannot waver even if we do not see the change in our life times.

How to Think Like a Christian About Evangelism and Missions

Christianity is in a very bad place. We are called to tell others the "good news" about our faith. In fact, we are told that we must recruit others to join our ranks. To begin with, let me state that I am an evangelism, missions, church growth guy. I want to build, grow, move all the time. Most of my time and attention is focused on "getting as many people to follow Jesus as I can before I die."

But we are in bad shape because people don't like Christians very much right now. Look, we are the ones who led crusades, killed Jews, fought wars and more, to the detriment of humanity in general. "Christians" colonized America and pushed everyone else out of the way. If you did not join us we were likely to kill you, steal from you, rape you or kick you out of your home.

Today is not much better. The average American believes that Christians are narrow-minded, bigoted, arrogant, pushy and bossy. I know Christians who fit in every one of those categories. Unfortunately, I know a few who fit in all of them.

So I have a distinct disadvantage when I share my faith. People around me who are not Christian generally do not want to be Christian, and they do not like Christians. It's an uphill battle from the start.

Being unpopular does not eliminate our need to do what Jesus asked us to, however. We can learn some approaches and methodologies that will help us and make us more effective in our mission, evangelistic and outreach work.

• Listen more than you talk. People with a bad impression of Christianity have that impression because Christians do not shut up. Your friends have problems that you can help them with, but they want to (need to) talk about them. Do not interrupt. Do not advise. Do not anticipate what they might say. Shut up and listen.
• Share love rather than guilt. Your friends already know about their sins. They know that they are doing wrong. The Holy Spirit is already convicting them of every infraction. You should be a source of love, encouragement, peace and understanding.
• Give more than you take. Christians are famous (infamous?) for always asking for things. How about if we starting giving to people. Take care of someone else's needs for a change.
• Be for more things than you are against. Christians need to take stands on important moral issues. We must be against sin and its advance on earth. But we should be for some things, and those things that we are for ought to be our focus. Be for feeding the poor, eradicating disease, respecting all people.
• Serve others. When we are concerned with the needs and desires of others, they will pay attention to what we have to say. But it is imperative that our motive be serving them, not converting them.

It is hard to be faithful, but it is possible. We need to not give up our calling, but to embrace it with vigor and gusto.

In the Loop and On the Web

Generally speaking, this blog is a collection of my thoughts. There are some general themes, but for the most part what you read here is what is going on in my head, good or bad. Today is no exception to that rule. I am thinking about relationships and networking. I am focusing on being in the loop and extending on the web.

The reason that I am so concerned with this is two-fold. On the one hand, networking seems to be an important way to get things done. I try to remember who I have met, and what they do. I hope to respond to people who call on me for help or assistance. I feel as though a big part of my life is helping others explore issues of faith. I want to be available for anyone who wants to move farther on that journey, or who wants to help others move along that path.

On the other hand, there seems to be a very real danger. How am I to be sure that I am not using and abusing the relationships, the friendships, that I have developed? When do a cross the line between caring about another person to using them for their gifts? Or, more personally, how do I know when someone is using me to further their agenda?

I do not want to ever lose sight of these questions or diminish their significance. I want to build a network that seeks to do the work of the Kingdom of God, but I do not want to take advantage of anyone. I want to help others, and be helped by them, but I want to avoid ever taking anyone for granted, or being taken for granted.

To those ends, from here on, my priorities in relationships are:

• To care for each person for who they are, not for what they can do.
• To listen and care about needs, and to not be concerned about the time they are taking.
• To connect people to one another for God's purposes, not my own.
• To love all people, regardless of their abilities, connections or position.
• To always remember that God is first, others are second. Me and my needs are always last.

The Litmus Test

I have always considered myself to be pretty open-minded. I like all people, from all cultures. But recently I have noticed a very small chink in my armor. I am not as magnanimous as I would like to be. I have some serious problems with the "Evangelical Litmus Test."

I think that all Christian denominations come from God. Often these get corrupted and used for evil purposes. But in their original state and with their original purposes in tact, denominations are tools that God uses to reach more people. There are some people who would not follow God if they could not be Catholic, or Baptist, or Methodist, or Pentecostal. God knows about these differences in personality and uses churches to reach out and meet those needs.

But my problem is that I have a test, a shibboleth if you will. I want to know that you believe what I believe, think like I think and behave like I behave. And if you do not, I am not sure that I can trust you. My litmus test results in a suspicious attitude toward anyone who is not just like me. This is a terrible sin, and I am sorry. I do not want to judge people. I do not want to be negative toward those around me. I certainly do not want to make enemies of those who are in my own camp. And yet, I regularly do this very thing.

And I am not alone. There are hundreds (thousands? millions?) of Christians who do this very thing. We think that if someone prays aloud, they are not Christian. Or, if someone does not pray aloud, they are not Christian. We judge and ostracize one another on dozens of issues every day. It is time that we stop.

Beginning today I will try to be more charitable in my thoughts toward others in the Christian community. I will celebrate the differences that come from God and use them to reach the world. I will do all I can to bring as many people as possible into the fold, and if I am not the right person to do it, I will work to find someone who is better at communicating. I will do this from now on. Will you join me?

Barging In

I am not a very out-going person. That confession will come as a surprise to many who know me. They see me, I think, as an easy going, extrovert who has never met a stranger. But that is a carefully orchestrated facade. I am basically a shy, bookish person who would rather read, write and be on the computer than attend a dinner party with people I do not know.

The fact that I am the first one to speak in a group of strangers, is a rather new phenomenon, and an experience that is not at all comfortable or accidental. I purposely go out of my way to meet people, get in situations that allow me to speak, and work to build relationships with new people. I describe this attitude and approach to socializing, Barging In.

I try very hard to use wisdom about when it is appropriate, but when it is, I barge in. I ask questions that make people know I am interested. I create opportunities for others to share their thoughts and perspectives. I make sure to listen when they speak. But the most important element of Barging In is not waiting for others to move or speak first. I barge in. I take the initiative.

In a room full of strangers, I start conversations. In a restaurant, I question the wait staff. In the check-out line I am friendly with customers and clerks. At my daughter's school functions I introduce myself to as many students and parents as I can. I spend time with people. I am interested in people.

Now, why would I do this if it were not in my natural personality? What would possess an introvert to behave like an extrovert? It is very simple: evangelism. I believe that I am responsible for telling people about my faith. I also believe that the best, most effective way to do that is through conversation. Speaking to people and listening to them speak are the keys to friendship, helping them with their problems and leading them to faith.

Evangelism in the Real World

One of the most disconcerting problems in all the Christian world is sharing your faith with someone else. We are all concerned (maybe consumed) with seeming normal. If I were to tell someone else about my faith in Jesus, that would necessarily make me a fanatic. I would be embarrassed for others to know what I believe. And heaven forbid that they think I was different than them.

Bill Hybels has been criticized greatly in the church at large. Sometimes the critiques have been justified, but too often we minimize his importance to the work of evangelism. Hybels and his staff at Willow Creek have done as much- perhaps more- for practical approaches to evangelization than anyone else in contemporary western Christianity. His book, Just Walk Across the Room, is filled with hands-on suggestions, opportunities and inspiration. There are three suggestions that Hybels makes that I would like to mention here. Each of these are part of the Hybels canon. If you have heard Hybels speak, been to a conference at Willow, or heard anything about the church, you have been exposed to these approaches.

• Do/Done. So many people think that the Christian faith is all about following rules and meeting requirements. The problem with this approach is that it is as exhausting as it is futile. It is impossible to "do" enough to make God happy. The better approach, and the one that is historical and biblical is to recognize and receive what God, through Jesus, has already done. You cannot earn salvation, but you can receive it.
• The Ladder. If the Christian faith were all about doing good deeds and being good enough for God, that would mean that there was some sort of spiritual ladder to climb. Are you good enough? Billy Graham, one of the most famous holy men in America, finds many faults and sins in his own life. He would not place himself very high on the ladder- maybe half-way to heaven. Could you be higher than that? If not, you cannot climb into heaven. You need to know that God offers a different plan, one that does not require you to be perfect.
• The Bridge. If God is holy, and we believe that he is, he cannot associate with sin. People are sinners and therefore there is divide between humanity and God. All of our attempts to cross that chasm are futile. We cannot get to God. But, God, through Jesus Christ his Son, used the cross as a bridge to get humans to God. All we have to do is cross that bridge through our faith.

E/I

Recently, while watching a television program, I noticed this "E/I", in the corner of the screen. I have no idea what that was for. Eventually I noticed this symbol on a lot of programs. It seems to appear most often on Saturday and Sunday morning and afternoon programs. I have made a guess that E/I stands for something like "Educational/Informational" because of the sort of programs that it appears on. Although that may be the right meaning, it didn't satisfy me. There could be something more at work here.

Evangelism is imperative. Christians are required to share their faith. It is not a suggestion that Jesus makes. He is very clear. We must be witnesses. We cannot do evangelism when it is convenient or comfortable. We are to be witnessing all the time.

• Evangelism Imperative. There are no options when it comes whether or not to do the work of evangelism. We are to do that work. There are options when it comes to how we share. There are different methods and strategies. Choose one that you are comfortable with. Make sure that your method suits your personality and lifestyle. But remember, Jesus said, "You will be my witnesses." (Acts 1.8)
• Evangelism Intention. If we wait for the opportunity to share our faith, it likely will never come. We must be vigilant in a search for evangelistic prospects and opportunities. Every day should begin with a mindset that seeks out relationships for the gospel. Every conversation should be moving toward the gospel. Evangelism must be intentional.

The Need is the Call

I have been influenced by a lot of people throughout my life. Some of my influencers are people that I know or have known personally. These people have- and continue to have- a great impact on my life. There are others who have had a less direct influence, but it is often no less significant.

• I remember the first time I heard Tony Campolo speak. He changed the way I thought about my faith and the acceptable parameters for preaching.
• Early in my adult life Calvin Miller, the Christian author, effected me with his writing. The Singer Trilogy was a good introduction, but then as I read some of his non-fiction work on ministry and leadership I began to grow in my calling.
• Gene Edwards is another author who has influenced me greatly. A Tale of Three Kings is still the most formative book I have read on leadership. I re-read it every few years just to remind myself of all the tricky relationships and perspectives of leadership.
• Recently, Brian McLaren is wrecking my life. The way he pushes me to think about the Christian faith is liberating, freeing, refreshing, scary and intimidating all at the same time.
• Jack Hayford reminds me that Christians do not have to be idiots. We can read and write in thoughtful ways. We can use our brains to discuss issues in the Christian faith. Not only that, we never have to be embarrassed about what we believe.
• Finally, Tommy Barnett has taught me that every person is important and deserves to receive the ministry of Jesus Christ. No one is too insignificant, too sinful, too lost or too much trouble to hear the message of the gospel.

Barnett has a philosophy that says, "Find a need a fill it; Find a hurt and heal it." Bill Wilson, a former disciple of Tommy Barnett adapts that to say, "The need is the call."

That is powerful. When I see a need in the world, that is God calling me to work on meeting that need. There are needs everywhere. In fact, every person should be able to look around them and find several things that need attention. Whether Christian or not, you can see people hurting, systems that need to be changed, problems that need attention. I believe that when you notice the needs, God is calling you to work on the needs.

Now think about this: What would happen if every person decided that they were going to work toward meeting one need? What if each of us decided to devote our time and energy to solving one problem? Wouldn't this be a different world?

God put you here for a reason. You can make a difference. That complaint you have about that thing that bothers you so much... That is God calling you to change it.

Broken Things

One of the advantages (or disadvantages, depending on your perspective) of lively in a wealthy time and place is that you accumulate a lot of 'stuff.' I have way too much stuff. I collect things (books and records) and in addition to that I have a lot of things that are useful or enjoyable to me. My home and my office are filled with things that are frivolous.

One of the consequences of this pattern of acquisition is that things are not valued as much as if they were rare to me. I do not get attached to my possessions the way I would if there were fewer of them. Scarcity creates an almost selfish preservation mentality. For the most part, I do not have that problem.

When I am finished with an item it is no problem for me to put it in a garage sale or flea market. I regularly take my clothes and other discarded items to Goodwill or some other thrift store or charitable/ mission organization. I can easily share the wealth with others, especially those who I perceive to have greater needs than I do.

This makes it much easier to dispose of broken things. I find it relatively easy to discard things that have worn out or been broken. Things that are no longer useful to me or anyone else get thrown away. I have thrown away dishes, clothes, cameras, computers, records, magazines, cars, toys, food, tapes, videos, mail, telephones, light bulbs and too many other things to name.

Often, it is more efficient to throw things away. After all, it is less expensive to buy a new television than to fix your old one. Just throw it away.

When things get broken, I get rid of them. Every Wednesday evening I cart a barrel full of broken things to the end of my drive and on Thursday morning a truck comes and takes it away. It is convenient and simple. I like it that way.

This is complicated when I encounter broken people, however. There are a lot of people who have problems. They have difficulties that I cannot understand. How easy it is for me to want to throw them away. How I am tempted to dismiss these men and women and children as too much trouble. I throw away everything else, why not people too?

But that is not God's way. God fixes broken people. No person should be thrown away. God is patient, willing and able to put together the broken pieces and restore life and health to anyone. This is a great lesson that I need to learn. I should be more understanding. More loving. More like God.

I want to throw broken people away, but God wants to fix them.

Life Verse

Philip is my hero. There are lots of reasons for this, but the primary one is what is said about him in Acts 21.9. Since finding this seemingly unimportant verse a few years ago, my life has changed and my focus has improved dramatically. Here is why.

"Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied." Acts 21.9

That now sums up my purpose, my life. It is partly because my only child is a daughter and because Philip had a heart for evangelism, but mostly I love this verse because Philip was a father. I, like Philip, am called to be a father, not only to my own child, but to spiritual children as well.

• I am called to reproduce children who are holy. Philip's daughters were virgins. This is true in the physical, moral sense of the word, but I believe it means that they were young women of integrity. My calling is to reproduce myself in this way as well.
• I am called to reproduce children who are spiritual leaders. Philip's daughters were ministers who shared the message of God with others through prophecy. I am called to build ministers as well.

There you have it. That is what I do (at least, what I should do). Keep me on track.

How to Share Your Faith

There are many people in the world who0 have great stories to tell. There are recountings of dramatic events, rescue from disaster or wonderful family memories. Many individuals, including Christians, believe that they have nothing to contribute. They believe that their personal story is uninteresting or uninspiring. Or perhaps, they believe that no one cares about them. It could be that you are simply too nervous or shy to share your faith or life with anyone.

That is where this article comes in. Whether your story is dramatic or not, you should be able to share it. Whether people are clambering to hear it or not, you should look for opportunities to share. Here are four reasons why.

1. People like stories. Television, movies, books, life are all filled with stories that people want to know about. You and I are moved by stories.
2. Stories are window into the soul. When you want to know the truth about a person or an issue, you listen to stories. And when you hear stories, you get to learn the truth.
3. Stories create a bond between people rather than a wall. Whether we have had the same experiences or not, sharing our lives draws us together.
4. Stories are encouraging to everyone. Both listener and teller get the exhilarating experience of re-living a story. Everyone is lifted up because of it.

Tell some stories. Tell some stories about your life and your faith.

More on this topic is available at http://plusline.org/article.php?id=5675. This article is adapted from Impact Your World: Tell Your Story at plusline.org.

Why Christmas is So Important

I often get into arguments with people about this time of year. I get a little frustrated about the early onslaught of Christmas music, lights and shopping that bombard us from Halloween onward. I wonder why Christmas seems to overshadow Easter and other significant Holy Days. I get angry at how commercial and consumer-oriented the holiday has become. Sometimes I get so upset that I am tempted to throw out the celebration of Christmas altogether. But I have learned not to do that.
Christmas is too important to be ignored. It is too significant for Christians, and has become a behemoth in our society that calls us to respond in loving and godly ways.

So, here are some thoughts that have helped me. Maybe they will help you as well.

• Christmas is a significant day in the Christian year. It is not Easter, but without the celebration of the Advent and coming of Christ at Christmas we would not have an Easter to celebrate. We should celebrate the coming of Immanuel, our Messiah.
• The gift-giving of Christmas, although often out-of-control, is a good practice to remind us of the gift that God gave us, his Son.
• The lights and decorations that are everywhere should remind us of the joy of the coming of new life and the Advent of the light of the world.
• Sharing greetings with others at Christmas time is a perfect way to share your faith with someone else. Do not give in to the pressure to eliminate Christ from your celebration. Boldly share what God has done for you.
• The entire celebration of Christmas, even when taken to its most extreme, is evidence that the world wants to believe. People all around you want to celebrate. They want to have Santa- a benevolent, miraculous gift-giver, to be real. They want a Father God and the gift of His Son. Use and meet these desires in your family Christmas celebration.
• People are more open to the work of God at Christmas than at any other time of the year. Do not let these seekers down. Be loving, gentle and joyous as you celebrate this year.

Whether we like it or not, Christmas is here. Ready or not, someone needs to hear. I plan to be sharing this holiday season. How about you?

Recruiting Leaders

Jesus told a story about a farmer who scattered a lot of seed in a lot places. He apparently had no expectation that all of his seed would take root and grow. It turns out that some of the seed landed in bad soil, some on rocky soil and some even ended up on a well-worn path. Certainly no seed could be expected to thrive in these settings. And in fact, it does not. However, some of the seed does have some success in each of these less than ideal soils.

The point that Jesus is trying to make is very simple. Spread your seed all over. Drop it wherever you can. The more seed you scatter, the more that will take root. And the more seed that takes root, the more that will flourish and ultimately bear fruit.

This philosophy is also true in recruiting leaders. Recruit leaders from everywhere. There is nowhere (NOWHERE) that you should not be recruiting, or at least thinking about recruiting. I am always on the lookout for someone who can assist me in my work. I am constantly encouraging people to get training, to spend time in study, to try new things so I can see their leadership potential.

Jesus also said that we should be praying for more workers. As far as I am concerned, this is a clear admonition to leader recruitment. There is enough work to do for everyone. In fact, there is too much work. We need help!

So, that quiet teen-ager is a potential leader. The single mother with no job is a potential leader. The elderly man in poor health, he is a potential leader. (Remember that Moses was 80 years old when God called him.)

All of this means that every conversation I have is a job interview. Every place that I go is a job search. I am always looking for leaders. Once in a very great while, someone will come to me and volunteer. That is by far the exception to the rule. Almost always the most effective leaders have to be sought out and encouraged from the very beginning.

The leaders are there. The work will get done. Part of my job is to find and prepare the people who will do the work.