How willing am I to share my faith?

I was reading Mark Collier's blog this morning, he's the Associate Pastor at Destiny Church in Tulsa OK. I met him and his brother a couple of years ago when they made a visit to GCC to check out the weekend services. I've been checking his blog from time to time and he always has great stuff on there. When I first saw this link with Penn from Penn and Teller I didn't really think much of it, but something told me to watch it so I did.

Please watch this clip before reading on.

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Here's the thing, am I as willing to share my faith with a stranger as the guy he's talking about? I have to honestly say no. Why? If my mission is to help people find their potential and purpose in life then why am I so willing to keep the word to myself? Could it be because I'm afraid to come of as the guy standing on the street corner handing out tracks and yelling on a bull horn? If I'm holding the way to eternal life in my hands and don't share it, is that any better than scaring people with damnation? What do I need to do? I need to be as genuine and honest as the man he's talking about. Maybe handing out Bibles is a little much but the respectful way that he approached Penn speaks volumes.

Spammed

This blog was spammed a few days ago. I've had to change the way comments can be added to the posts. If you add a comment it may take a day or so for me to allow it to be shown. Sorry for the inconvenience.

I don't understand why some fanatics think they have the right to spread their propaganda anonymously on blogs that are posted to help people grow closer to Christ. I think it's cowardly to make these types of statements in the name of Christ and then hide behind the vastness of the Internet. This guy was apparently from Australia. I removed his comments right away, I'm sorry if you happened to see them before I could get them taken off.

Thanks for your comments and support! You guys are great!

Restore

1 Peter 5:8-11 The Message

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

Another Reminder

I've been reading a few pages a day from Streams of Living Water for a couple of months now. Just about every time I pick up this book something gets my attention. There are times especially at work when I get all wrapped up in what I'm doing so I forget that everything I do in this life should be for the Glory of God. But I get frustrated or things don't go my way, I get upset and caught up in my own problems. I forget that God is with me all the time. So when I read this prayer it really hit home.

"Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not confined to the church, or closet, nor exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that everywhere I am in Thy presence. So may my every word and action have a moral content... May all the happenings of my life prove useful and beneficial to me. May all things instruct me and afford me an opportunity of exercising some virtue and daily learning and growing toward Thy likeness... Amen."

Susanna Wesley
Mother of John and Charles Wesley

Is everything I do for the Glory of God? Not always...but when I read something like this it reminds me that I'm human and I need His help in everything I do.

Sometimes I need to remember...

Proverbs 14:29

A patient man has great understanding,
but a quick-tempered man displays folly.

For the most part I'm pretty laid back and take things as they come but sometimes I just get ticked off, and when I do I need to remember this proverb.

The Bouquet of Thorns

I've been on call for work this past week and it seems like every time I'm on call the weather is either really cold or extremely hot. I've worked almost 80 hours durning the past week. Today is Thanksgiving and I had to go out on three calls this morning. One in Elkhart, one in Mishawaka and one in New Carlisle. I was listening to the radio on my way from Mishawaka to New Carlisle and the Revive Our Hearts Show with Nancy Leigh DeMoss came on. I don't normally listen to her show but I did today and I'm so thankful I did. I am very grateful to have a job even if it's not exactly what I'd like to be doing but it pays the bills and it's steady work. As I listened to the show my gratitude grew to another level. Follow the link, go to Thu. Nov 27 2008 and listen to the drama on the first 8:20 and let me know your thoughts.

http://www.reviveourhearts.com/radio/roh/today.php

Have a very happy and grateful Thanksgiving

Be Strong Everyday!

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.