Waaaaay too long! Thats the snag Ive hit being a SAHM. I got comfortable and didnt even realize it until God hit me hard with it one day. Ive thought about taking a class of some sort just so I can regularly be around unbelievers. I dont know how to do it though since I dont have anyone to watch my kids.
Amanda- I have was a SAHM for the last 17 years, I hear your struggle. Have those spiritual conversations with your kids, they are your ministry. Share your faith and stuggles with them, afterall they see you live it, or not live it, on a day to day. Be real with them; otherwise just be Jesus to the people at the grocery store
I just went to work for the first time outside a church enviroment a month ago and I now have the opportunity for those non-christian adult conversations. Be patient God has you where you’re at to be Him to those you see daily.
-Michelle
Thank you for the encouragement Michelle! Its always nice to talk to a mom who understands the difficult balance. Outside ministry can be really tough with young kids (mine are 3 and 14 months) its been so incredible to see my 3 yo son begin to get interested in spiritual stuff. Between home and sunday school, he is learning so much and even memorized some verses. For now I definitely am trying to focus on ministering to my kiddos and encouraging/coaching my volunteers at church. Im thinking maybe once my son starts preschool then I can take some sort of mommy and me type class with my daughter to get to interact with some new people and share Jesus.
Again I really appreciate the encouragement!
Amanda – a wise woman (who was a SAHM) once told me she intentionally goes to the same (or same couple of) grocery store clerk’s line every time she goes to the grocery store. She even tries to go at the same time every week — when she knows she can have a conversation with the woman. I’m trying to live up to that standard. At least my regular checkout lady knows my name now … after 4 years She also told me she intentionally took her kids to a park, even though she had a swingset in her backyard, so she could talk to other moms in the neighborhood. I think that’s still really good advice, even though I heard it more than 10 years ago.
Antof9 – Thanks so much! I actually usually do go to the same grocery stores pretty often. They dont quite know my name but they recognize me. It has opened up a few doors every now and then for an “I will pray for you” moment and I know I can be more bold in sharing sometimes.
The park is a great idea too! I will have to try that once it cools back down a little (Phoenix summers…..ugh…weve already hit 110 a few days)
thanks!!
As a SAHM myself…I find that the mission field of my neighborhood is huge, as well as my kids school…preschool days feel very isolated…but when school days come, you will find lots of people and ways to “share God’s love”
hang on,
Mary Anne
Hey Amanda…
Just to add to the other thoughts, my wife is a SAHM, and I am amazed by how many more spiritual conversations she has with kids. Check out meetup.com. She found some play groups there where we have built some long lasting relationships with people.
Also, she started her own storytime/playgroup – santacruzcreativeplay.com. Totally non-christian books and activities that many community moms have started coming to. She hangs out with them outside of that at times and the conversations often end up turning to spiritual topics and church.
My work colleagues know that I was a Pastor before coming to work here and I’m blessed to have spiritual conversatins with them on a regular basis. We have a broad range of faiths from Muslim to agnostic, athiest and “used to be Christian”.
I’ve had opportunity to share my faith with them in a more ‘traditional’ way but usually they ask me for advice on things going on in their lives. We’ve talked over a range of subjects from work to family, relationships with spouse/children as well as the purpose to life etc.
I LOVE these opportunities to get to know my colleagues and for them to get to know me as we share about our lives – after all sharing the Gospel is doen through relationships so I continually pray that God would quicken my spirit to be open and aware of these opportunities during my day.
The more we talk the more people are willing to share their lives with me which means I’m more clued in to pray for them and share with them. You know in all honesty I’m sharing my faith more now than when i was a Pastor – scary huh?
just earlier today actually. i attend a chemical dependency recovery class 3 times a week, and i can tell you there is a huge sense of hopelessness there… i’m there to try to provide hope.
how did it go?
for them, i think it went really well. they seemed to receive a few truths that they didn’t have before… so i would say successful. however, for me… it was absolutely heartbreaking.
ill share just one quick story:
one woman (probably mid to late 30s) was remembering a “good childhood memory” and the only thing that came to mind was how she remembered looking forward to Fridays when her father would come home – go straight to the bathroom to shoot up – and she would stand outside the door and hear him “flick the needle” and that’s when she knew she could knock on the door and ask for her allowance.
yesterday, the guy over the partition, he’s a formerly churched guy with some major baggage…great opportunity that I intend to build on as our relationship develops.
Actually I’ve thought alot about an experience I had recently while reading my Bible at Starbucks. A 20something guy comes in and sits down on the other side of the end table from me. He notices my phone lying on the table and asks if he might borrow it to call his mom, explaining that his phone died and he needed to contact her. I asked him to explain a bit more and he shared that he had just come from a job interview (he was dressed nicely) and tried to grab some lunch at the restaurant across the street, but his debit card was denied–insufficient funds and then he tried to reach his mom, who works in this area, but his phone died. So, I let him use the phone. He ends us leaving her a message, and becomes a bit emotional on the phone. When he hangs up, he thanks me for letting him use the phone and then asks, “So you seem like a nice person and all, would you have a few dollars that I could have to buy a bus ticket back home? I live in ______ (about 25 miles north of where we were) and I only bought a one-way ticket down here because I thought my mom could give me a lift home, since she works down here, but she probably isn’t going to be off work until late tonight and I don’t know what I”m going to do….” I looked in my purse and I had 3 dollars. I gave it to him and told him I was sorry I didn’t have more to help him with. He then motions toward my Bible and asks, “So does that help?” I said, “You mean, the Bible?” “Yeah,” he said. “Does that really help because I know I’m not the greatest person and all, but I am going to college and trying to get a job so that I won’t have to depend on my mom , and it just seems that everything is going wrong. Why is this happening to me?” “I don’t know, ” I replied. ” Do you pray?” I asked. “I don’t really know how,” he replied. I said, “There’s nothing special to it; you just have a conversation with God just like we’re having right now.” “Well, I think I”ve tried it before, ” he said. “But I really need money for this busy ticket home. What is God going to do about that?” “I don’t know,” I answered. “Why don’t you ask Him?” I replied. He said, “Am I just supposed to ask people for money?!?” I encouraged him to keep praying–that God surely did care about him and wants him to know that. I went to the bathroom and was praying, “God, am I supposed to give him the money for his bus ticket?” (He said he needed $20.) “I don’t really want to go across the street to Walmart just to get money from my bank account, but if You want me to do so, I will,” I said to Him. When I returned, I told the guy that I had to leave and go home, that my kids were waiting for me (they had gotten off the bus a half hour ago already), and that I hoped he would be able to get his money for his bus ticket. As I walked out the door, I noticed a check cashing store front just down the walkway from Starbucks. I went inside and asked what their fees were. I decided that I would get the money for his bus ticket. So, I did. Then I walked back into Starbucks and over to his chair. “Hey,” I said. “Here’s your bus ticket money. There just happened to be a personal banking storefront just down the way here, so I was able to help you out.” He smiled and thanked me. I went out to my car.
As I drove away, I was glad to be able to share my means with him, but I felt so ashamed that I didn’t share anything with him from the Word. It was very convicting to me because I have been leading a teen Bible study this year from the book of Ephesians. I have been encouraging the teens to walk out what we’ve been studying and here I was with my STUDY Bible in hand and didn’t even read a verse to this guy. It really brought home to me that I needed to be bold, not just read it for myself. I needed to pray with him and offer him hope from the Word for his life. Since that time, I have prayed often for him and have hoped to run into him again, if God were to arrange that. I shared my experience with my children, just for them to see that we all miss out on those God-given opportunities and that I needed them to encourage me as much as I encourage them to live the life every day.
sometimes it is the action that speaks louder than the words…my guess is your “sharing of God’s love” with him did more to encourage, than any words you could have added…
At work during lunch, myself and 2 friends talk about our spiritual experiences and how that matters to what’s goin’ on in our lives. We’ve talked everyday for the last 9 months.
Our friendship is growing.
Mostly, I listen. When asked what I believe, I share.
Yesterday.
With my manager at work.
Lasted 10 minutes- a continuation of 2 other conversations.
It went well, I think- she keeps asking more questions. She is open to hearing, curious why I believe, wondering why I’m not freaking out over my current life situation and why I say Jesus is my peace in it.
I’ve had a couple conversations with my boss in the last 6 months. He was raised in the Catholic church and is very knowledgable about the Bible…he is clearly not a believer however. He has said I’m the only protestant he can stand to talk to because I do not immediately tell him he’s got it all wrong. I try to take time to listen to him and understand from his perspective. That way my responses are more effective and he feels that I care about him.
Evangelical protestants do not own the rights to all the answers.
There’s a lady at work that I’ve become really good friends with over the past two years that I’ve been here. God has used her to teach me how to really love and share with someone who doesn’t know Him. Sometimes our conversations about spiritual things are about something little, and then there are times that she just bawls and asks me to pray for her.
I pray every single day that God will open the eyes of her heart so that she can see her need for Him. I love the relationship He’s given us, and I pray that someday she comes to know Him.
With the exception of the little, inbred group of missionary weirdos that I sometimes hang out with, I’d say that about half of my friends and 90% of my family aren’t Christians. And I talk with them all the time about what God is doing in my life and my gratefulness for Jesus.
I don’t know that I would call it “spiritual conversation” as opposed to just “conversation”, but since God is the predominant theme in my life, He’s bound to come up pretty often.
When my friends have questions, or if they disagree with something I’ve said, or whatever, they know they can talk openly to me. And for what it’s worth, I try not to be an a**hole if I think they’re wrong…or stupid.
Last friday..I ended up talking to the people I am working for here in Germany. It didn’t really lead to anything but it nice to share a bit and find out where they stand. It is interesting though as I tend to want to talk people around to Jesus but he has been showing me that it isn’t just our words but also the power of his Spirit evident in our lives that brings people into the kingdom.
Every once in a while (last one was a couple weeks ago), a co-worker who is a professed atheist will strike up a conversation about faith and why he doesn’t have any. It usually goes pretty well. He called me on his way home from work the last time to tell me how much he appreciated me not just yelling at him and telling him how wrong he was, but having an intellectual conversation where I let him present his point of view, and he did the same for me.
He wouldn’t ask questions if the Spirit wasn’t working on him. All I can do is be available when he asks the questions, and when He presents the opportunity.
This morning, facebook, one of my friends has a daily quote from the Dalai Lama. Todays quote, “What is my religion? Simple. Kindness.”~ The Dalai Lama Today be nice.
My Comment “good philosophy regardless of whom you follow.”
His comment “I agree”
Earth-shattering, no…but we now have some commonality in agreeing to be nice. Who knows what God has in mind.
This isn’t the most recent, but…
When I was in college, a fellow student I had never met before told me she was a Christian Buddhist, and named some elements of Buddhism that did seem to jive with Christianity. After all, she said, all religions are headed down the same path to God anyway. “Oh,” I said, “I have a little different take on world religions.” She asked what it was, and genuinely seemed eager to know what my take on things was. But when I said that there are lies in some religions, her face turned to… Scared? Appalled? I don’t really know. But the idea that the best lies have a little bit of truth in them seemed new to her.
Not sure what to make of that. But I was proud of both of us for being respectful when we disagreed.
At school, the people at my table (nine people in all, including 2 sometimes-Christians, 2 athiests, and one member of the post-Christian Christian movement) talk frequently about things like ethics, philosophy, quantum physics, and faith. I actually find it easier to talk to my nonChristian friends about my faith than my few Christian friends, or the people at my church.
well since I have no filter in what & where I say something I have gotten into meny of spirtule conversions with non belevers, my down stairs nabor visets me almost dayly & they are wickins & i talk to them about thire belefs ( I am a former wickin abong others things) & I talk to them about my belefs, fears, dobts, & uncerntys with my beliefs. I guess that qulifys, although I feel bad alot becuse i’m not really a wittines just a lost broken soal surching for ansers so I’m afraid I don’t paint a pretty picter of chrstianty.
My wife and I were on a road trip recently and as we stopped at an In & Out Burger place somewhere in the desert I had the opportunity to witness to a guy in need of some food. This was probably about 3-4 days ago.
Truly, my wife was the one that noticed him, he didn’t come up to us begging, she spotted him and gave me “the look”. Something I’ve really begun to hate about myself is this place of apathy that I can come to where, being in full time ministry, I think that sharing the gospel is something that I do at church, and when I’m on vacation I take a break from it. Not sure if any of you can identify. It’s so unfortunate how the privilege of ministry can become a dreaded job sometimes. I know that sounds really unholy, but this blog is about being real, so that’s real for me.
Nonetheless, the man was incredibly thankful, we hung out for a little while together while we waited for his food, I talked to him about the glorious gospel of Jesus and how the work needed for our being saved was completed on the cross. He was pretty hung up on “trying real hard” and “doing his best” to make sure he was right with God “someday”. It was a privilege to tell him about the greatest news anyone could ever hear, that we can be right with God today, because Jesus’ sacrifice was enough to cover all our sin.
A guy came to our church looking for a voucher for some food and as gas money. I hit him up with a gas voucher and then said “Tell me what your life was like growing up?” An hour and a half later, we were flipping through the Bible and talking about what it looks like to live knowing that Jesus Christ is God and he died because he loves you without condition. He cried a bit and thanked me for the gas voucher. I didn’t ‘close the deal’ as it were, cause I’m not a salesman. I just shook his hand and told him my phone always rings when you call and the church is always open.
My boss.
A couple weeks ago.
Pretty good, it was the first time we had really talked about it and I think it went well and I was able to shine some light.
At the park the other day I chatted with a woman about Jesus. She didn’t want to hear about it. It went ugly. It left a mark.
It’s never crashed and burned like that before. Odd. I have a feeling I’ll come to it often in my mind. And, frankly, I should just let it go. Or, should I?
HIs name is Christopher, and it was in March. It lasted 3 hours and some of the words he spoke to me gave me goosebumps. For example, he said, “That Jesus guy, he’s pretty amazing. He never contradicted himself and always loved people. That’s a dude I aspire to be.”
It was, by far, the most meaningful conversation I’ve had in a very long time. I was probably more blessed that Christopher. It was an amazing conversation and he is still searching. God be praised for that!
RAIN IT DOWN
Define spiritual.
Existential? What our purpose is? Or the ramifications of Christian living?
Spiritual should never be defined by someone else…
You define it then answer it.
Waaaaay too long! Thats the snag Ive hit being a SAHM. I got comfortable and didnt even realize it until God hit me hard with it one day. Ive thought about taking a class of some sort just so I can regularly be around unbelievers. I dont know how to do it though since I dont have anyone to watch my kids.
Amanda- I have was a SAHM for the last 17 years, I hear your struggle. Have those spiritual conversations with your kids, they are your ministry. Share your faith and stuggles with them, afterall they see you live it, or not live it, on a day to day. Be real with them; otherwise just be Jesus to the people at the grocery store
I just went to work for the first time outside a church enviroment a month ago and I now have the opportunity for those non-christian adult conversations. Be patient God has you where you’re at to be Him to those you see daily.
-Michelle
Thank you for the encouragement Michelle! Its always nice to talk to a mom who understands the difficult balance. Outside ministry can be really tough with young kids (mine are 3 and 14 months) its been so incredible to see my 3 yo son begin to get interested in spiritual stuff. Between home and sunday school, he is learning so much and even memorized some verses. For now I definitely am trying to focus on ministering to my kiddos and encouraging/coaching my volunteers at church. Im thinking maybe once my son starts preschool then I can take some sort of mommy and me type class with my daughter to get to interact with some new people and share Jesus.
Again I really appreciate the encouragement!
Amanda – a wise woman (who was a SAHM) once told me she intentionally goes to the same (or same couple of) grocery store clerk’s line every time she goes to the grocery store. She even tries to go at the same time every week — when she knows she can have a conversation with the woman. I’m trying to live up to that standard. At least my regular checkout lady knows my name now … after 4 years
She also told me she intentionally took her kids to a park, even though she had a swingset in her backyard, so she could talk to other moms in the neighborhood. I think that’s still really good advice, even though I heard it more than 10 years ago.
Antof9 – Thanks so much! I actually usually do go to the same grocery stores pretty often. They dont quite know my name but they recognize me. It has opened up a few doors every now and then for an “I will pray for you” moment and I know I can be more bold in sharing sometimes.
The park is a great idea too! I will have to try that once it cools back down a little (Phoenix summers…..ugh…weve already hit 110 a few days)
thanks!!
As a SAHM myself…I find that the mission field of my neighborhood is huge, as well as my kids school…preschool days feel very isolated…but when school days come, you will find lots of people and ways to “share God’s love”
hang on,
Mary Anne
Hey Amanda…
Just to add to the other thoughts, my wife is a SAHM, and I am amazed by how many more spiritual conversations she has with kids. Check out meetup.com. She found some play groups there where we have built some long lasting relationships with people.
Also, she started her own storytime/playgroup – santacruzcreativeplay.com. Totally non-christian books and activities that many community moms have started coming to. She hangs out with them outside of that at times and the conversations often end up turning to spiritual topics and church.
My work colleagues know that I was a Pastor before coming to work here and I’m blessed to have spiritual conversatins with them on a regular basis. We have a broad range of faiths from Muslim to agnostic, athiest and “used to be Christian”.
I’ve had opportunity to share my faith with them in a more ‘traditional’ way but usually they ask me for advice on things going on in their lives. We’ve talked over a range of subjects from work to family, relationships with spouse/children as well as the purpose to life etc.
I LOVE these opportunities to get to know my colleagues and for them to get to know me as we share about our lives – after all sharing the Gospel is doen through relationships so I continually pray that God would quicken my spirit to be open and aware of these opportunities during my day.
The more we talk the more people are willing to share their lives with me which means I’m more clued in to pray for them and share with them. You know in all honesty I’m sharing my faith more now than when i was a Pastor – scary huh?
just earlier today actually. i attend a chemical dependency recovery class 3 times a week, and i can tell you there is a huge sense of hopelessness there… i’m there to try to provide hope.
how did it go?
for them, i think it went really well. they seemed to receive a few truths that they didn’t have before… so i would say successful. however, for me… it was absolutely heartbreaking.
ill share just one quick story:
one woman (probably mid to late 30s) was remembering a “good childhood memory” and the only thing that came to mind was how she remembered looking forward to Fridays when her father would come home – go straight to the bathroom to shoot up – and she would stand outside the door and hear him “flick the needle” and that’s when she knew she could knock on the door and ask for her allowance.
I wept.
Oh wow that’s heart breaking!
Thank you for being a messenger of hope to those people Carly – hands and feet, that’s what it’s all about
Blessings
yesterday, the guy over the partition, he’s a formerly churched guy with some major baggage…great opportunity that I intend to build on as our relationship develops.
Actually I’ve thought alot about an experience I had recently while reading my Bible at Starbucks. A 20something guy comes in and sits down on the other side of the end table from me. He notices my phone lying on the table and asks if he might borrow it to call his mom, explaining that his phone died and he needed to contact her. I asked him to explain a bit more and he shared that he had just come from a job interview (he was dressed nicely) and tried to grab some lunch at the restaurant across the street, but his debit card was denied–insufficient funds and then he tried to reach his mom, who works in this area, but his phone died. So, I let him use the phone. He ends us leaving her a message, and becomes a bit emotional on the phone. When he hangs up, he thanks me for letting him use the phone and then asks, “So you seem like a nice person and all, would you have a few dollars that I could have to buy a bus ticket back home? I live in ______ (about 25 miles north of where we were) and I only bought a one-way ticket down here because I thought my mom could give me a lift home, since she works down here, but she probably isn’t going to be off work until late tonight and I don’t know what I”m going to do….” I looked in my purse and I had 3 dollars. I gave it to him and told him I was sorry I didn’t have more to help him with. He then motions toward my Bible and asks, “So does that help?” I said, “You mean, the Bible?” “Yeah,” he said. “Does that really help because I know I’m not the greatest person and all, but I am going to college and trying to get a job so that I won’t have to depend on my mom , and it just seems that everything is going wrong. Why is this happening to me?” “I don’t know, ” I replied. ” Do you pray?” I asked. “I don’t really know how,” he replied. I said, “There’s nothing special to it; you just have a conversation with God just like we’re having right now.” “Well, I think I”ve tried it before, ” he said. “But I really need money for this busy ticket home. What is God going to do about that?” “I don’t know,” I answered. “Why don’t you ask Him?” I replied. He said, “Am I just supposed to ask people for money?!?” I encouraged him to keep praying–that God surely did care about him and wants him to know that. I went to the bathroom and was praying, “God, am I supposed to give him the money for his bus ticket?” (He said he needed $20.) “I don’t really want to go across the street to Walmart just to get money from my bank account, but if You want me to do so, I will,” I said to Him. When I returned, I told the guy that I had to leave and go home, that my kids were waiting for me (they had gotten off the bus a half hour ago already), and that I hoped he would be able to get his money for his bus ticket. As I walked out the door, I noticed a check cashing store front just down the walkway from Starbucks. I went inside and asked what their fees were. I decided that I would get the money for his bus ticket. So, I did. Then I walked back into Starbucks and over to his chair. “Hey,” I said. “Here’s your bus ticket money. There just happened to be a personal banking storefront just down the way here, so I was able to help you out.” He smiled and thanked me. I went out to my car.
As I drove away, I was glad to be able to share my means with him, but I felt so ashamed that I didn’t share anything with him from the Word. It was very convicting to me because I have been leading a teen Bible study this year from the book of Ephesians. I have been encouraging the teens to walk out what we’ve been studying and here I was with my STUDY Bible in hand and didn’t even read a verse to this guy. It really brought home to me that I needed to be bold, not just read it for myself. I needed to pray with him and offer him hope from the Word for his life. Since that time, I have prayed often for him and have hoped to run into him again, if God were to arrange that. I shared my experience with my children, just for them to see that we all miss out on those God-given opportunities and that I needed them to encourage me as much as I encourage them to live the life every day.
sometimes it is the action that speaks louder than the words…my guess is your “sharing of God’s love” with him did more to encourage, than any words you could have added…
At work during lunch, myself and 2 friends talk about our spiritual experiences and how that matters to what’s goin’ on in our lives. We’ve talked everyday for the last 9 months.
Our friendship is growing.
Mostly, I listen. When asked what I believe, I share.
We’re still friends, so I guess it’s going well.
Yesterday.
With my manager at work.
Lasted 10 minutes- a continuation of 2 other conversations.
It went well, I think- she keeps asking more questions. She is open to hearing, curious why I believe, wondering why I’m not freaking out over my current life situation and why I say Jesus is my peace in it.
I’ve had a couple conversations with my boss in the last 6 months. He was raised in the Catholic church and is very knowledgable about the Bible…he is clearly not a believer however. He has said I’m the only protestant he can stand to talk to because I do not immediately tell him he’s got it all wrong. I try to take time to listen to him and understand from his perspective. That way my responses are more effective and he feels that I care about him.
Evangelical protestants do not own the rights to all the answers.
A couple of days ago.
There’s a lady at work that I’ve become really good friends with over the past two years that I’ve been here. God has used her to teach me how to really love and share with someone who doesn’t know Him. Sometimes our conversations about spiritual things are about something little, and then there are times that she just bawls and asks me to pray for her.
I pray every single day that God will open the eyes of her heart so that she can see her need for Him. I love the relationship He’s given us, and I pray that someday she comes to know Him.
With the exception of the little, inbred group of missionary weirdos that I sometimes hang out with, I’d say that about half of my friends and 90% of my family aren’t Christians. And I talk with them all the time about what God is doing in my life and my gratefulness for Jesus.
I don’t know that I would call it “spiritual conversation” as opposed to just “conversation”, but since God is the predominant theme in my life, He’s bound to come up pretty often.
When my friends have questions, or if they disagree with something I’ve said, or whatever, they know they can talk openly to me. And for what it’s worth, I try not to be an a**hole if I think they’re wrong…or stupid.
This approach seems to work pretty well for me.
Last friday..I ended up talking to the people I am working for here in Germany. It didn’t really lead to anything but it nice to share a bit and find out where they stand. It is interesting though as I tend to want to talk people around to Jesus but he has been showing me that it isn’t just our words but also the power of his Spirit evident in our lives that brings people into the kingdom.
Yesterday.
Starbucks.
Young guy grew up in a christian home but walked away from the Lord because his mother died and he couldn’t understand why.
I’m going to start frequenting that location at about that time to try and keep our conversation going.
Every once in a while (last one was a couple weeks ago), a co-worker who is a professed atheist will strike up a conversation about faith and why he doesn’t have any. It usually goes pretty well. He called me on his way home from work the last time to tell me how much he appreciated me not just yelling at him and telling him how wrong he was, but having an intellectual conversation where I let him present his point of view, and he did the same for me.
He wouldn’t ask questions if the Spirit wasn’t working on him. All I can do is be available when he asks the questions, and when He presents the opportunity.
This morning, facebook, one of my friends has a daily quote from the Dalai Lama. Todays quote, “What is my religion? Simple. Kindness.”~ The Dalai Lama Today be nice.
My Comment “good philosophy regardless of whom you follow.”
His comment “I agree”
Earth-shattering, no…but we now have some commonality in agreeing to be nice. Who knows what God has in mind.
This isn’t the most recent, but…
When I was in college, a fellow student I had never met before told me she was a Christian Buddhist, and named some elements of Buddhism that did seem to jive with Christianity. After all, she said, all religions are headed down the same path to God anyway. “Oh,” I said, “I have a little different take on world religions.” She asked what it was, and genuinely seemed eager to know what my take on things was. But when I said that there are lies in some religions, her face turned to… Scared? Appalled? I don’t really know. But the idea that the best lies have a little bit of truth in them seemed new to her.
Not sure what to make of that. But I was proud of both of us for being respectful when we disagreed.
At school, the people at my table (nine people in all, including 2 sometimes-Christians, 2 athiests, and one member of the post-Christian Christian movement) talk frequently about things like ethics, philosophy, quantum physics, and faith. I actually find it easier to talk to my nonChristian friends about my faith than my few Christian friends, or the people at my church.
well since I have no filter in what & where I say something I have gotten into meny of spirtule conversions with non belevers, my down stairs nabor visets me almost dayly & they are wickins & i talk to them about thire belefs ( I am a former wickin abong others things) & I talk to them about my belefs, fears, dobts, & uncerntys with my beliefs. I guess that qulifys, although I feel bad alot becuse i’m not really a wittines just a lost broken soal surching for ansers so I’m afraid I don’t paint a pretty picter of chrstianty.
My wife and I were on a road trip recently and as we stopped at an In & Out Burger place somewhere in the desert I had the opportunity to witness to a guy in need of some food. This was probably about 3-4 days ago.
Truly, my wife was the one that noticed him, he didn’t come up to us begging, she spotted him and gave me “the look”. Something I’ve really begun to hate about myself is this place of apathy that I can come to where, being in full time ministry, I think that sharing the gospel is something that I do at church, and when I’m on vacation I take a break from it. Not sure if any of you can identify. It’s so unfortunate how the privilege of ministry can become a dreaded job sometimes. I know that sounds really unholy, but this blog is about being real, so that’s real for me.
Nonetheless, the man was incredibly thankful, we hung out for a little while together while we waited for his food, I talked to him about the glorious gospel of Jesus and how the work needed for our being saved was completed on the cross. He was pretty hung up on “trying real hard” and “doing his best” to make sure he was right with God “someday”. It was a privilege to tell him about the greatest news anyone could ever hear, that we can be right with God today, because Jesus’ sacrifice was enough to cover all our sin.
Thanks for the question, and letting me vent
Three hours ago.
It lasted about an hour and a half.
A guy came to our church looking for a voucher for some food and as gas money. I hit him up with a gas voucher and then said “Tell me what your life was like growing up?” An hour and a half later, we were flipping through the Bible and talking about what it looks like to live knowing that Jesus Christ is God and he died because he loves you without condition. He cried a bit and thanked me for the gas voucher. I didn’t ‘close the deal’ as it were, cause I’m not a salesman. I just shook his hand and told him my phone always rings when you call and the church is always open.
My boss.
A couple weeks ago.
Pretty good, it was the first time we had really talked about it and I think it went well and I was able to shine some light.
At the park the other day I chatted with a woman about Jesus. She didn’t want to hear about it. It went ugly. It left a mark.
It’s never crashed and burned like that before. Odd. I have a feeling I’ll come to it often in my mind. And, frankly, I should just let it go. Or, should I?
HIs name is Christopher, and it was in March. It lasted 3 hours and some of the words he spoke to me gave me goosebumps. For example, he said, “That Jesus guy, he’s pretty amazing. He never contradicted himself and always loved people. That’s a dude I aspire to be.”
It was, by far, the most meaningful conversation I’ve had in a very long time. I was probably more blessed that Christopher. It was an amazing conversation and he is still searching. God be praised for that!
tonight. maggie. could have been better.