Day 121 - Here's a Tip

"I was glad that Jess and I were able to get away for lunch today and be together. Our waitress was awesome and even shook our hands and said it was an honor to serve us. We tipped her 40% and invited her to church on our receipt."

I really enjoy seeing people who do well at their work. There have been a few waitresses and waiters who have dazzled me. This lady really caught our attention. I try to be generous and tip well. I also never leave an invite without also leaving a good amount of money as a tip. 

I know that if I was a waiter and someone left me an invite card to a church as my tip I would probably be cursing the name of that church and wouldn't attend because I would suppose the people there are stingy. On the other hand if someone tipped me well and invited me to church I would at least look into what that church was all about and would have the opinion that it must be a good church because the people are generous. 

Do you have any tipping rules you abide by? What are the qualities of a hard worker that catch your attention? 

Day 120 - It Never Gets Old

"I always love looking into the eyes of the people getting saved. It never gets old seeing the faces of people ready to be brought to life. Some smiling, some in tears, some afraid, some ready. I pray they all are fruit that remains."

I get the unique privilege as a preaching pastor to give altar calls and to see the fruit of my labors in the gospel. We cast the net and then we gather in the results. The most wonderful part of it all is that it never gets old. We do an altar call every service and it never gets old. 

I never tire of seeing the joy of someone who is happy to be in church giving their heart to the Lord. I never tire of seeing the tears of repentance streaming down the faces of men and women who are leaving behind a world that chewed them up and spat them out. I never tire of seeing the broken and the hurting come to Jesus for healing and restoration. 

My prayer is that every one becomes a disciple, following Jesus for the rest of their days.  It is a heartbreak to think that thousands walk our aisles every year but only hundreds return and commit. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for the hundreds. As a pastor, and a Christian, I want to see people locked into Jesus for all their days. That is why I do what I do, why I preach and teach with passion, why I pray for the lost. 

It never gets old. 

What blesses you most when you see people make a decision to follow the Lord? How can we encourage people to come back to church? 

Day 119 - Someone to Love

"One guy was talking to everyone and probably was strung out. He would repeat himself and eventually was singing a song pretty passionately."

I know you have been there too. You're waiting in a line for something and it is hot outside. People are standing around with frowns on their faces and no one wants to talk. Everyone just wants to hurry up and get home where they can get some relief. 

From nowhere a guy walks up and has no clue about lines, personal space or non-verbal communication. He breaks every rule and when he is told there is a line he politely goes to the back and engages whoever will talk to him in conversation. 

Here is where it gets tough. No one wants to talk. So he continues to talk and look around trying to get eye contact so he knows someone is listening. 

I was raised to be polite and to look people in the eye when they were addressing me. You know what that means? That means that I am the guy the talker wants to talk to. The only respite I get is when the line moves. If I don't look back then my name could potentially become 'Buddy' or 'Dude' so that he can get eye contact again. 

I remember looking at the guy (not the proverbial one we were discussing a moment ago but the real one from last year in the line I was in) and thinking to myself while he passionately sang a song no one knew, "He must have been neglected as a child." 

It is sad but many times people make choices based on a wrong view of love. "Maybe if I do this they will love and accept me." Actions, style of clothing, style of music, systems of thought and morals are all on the table if someone will love them. People will run into bad decisions that lead to bad places in their search for love and acceptance. 

The saddest part is that Jesus is continually there to offer both. Jesus will listen and laugh and weep with them. He will never leave them nor forsake them. They just don't see Him when they are looking for someone to make eye contact with them so they move past Him. That is why it is so important that we slow down, endure heat, step outside of our social rules of engagement and love with the love of Jesus. We can't be the friend that sticks closer than a brother but He can. 

So I guess the fact that I am the only one who will make eye contact isn't such a bad thing. God uses the available and the obedient. Let's love with the love we have received. 

How do you do in situations like the one I described? In what ways can we engage people with the love of Jesus? 

Day 118 - Going Through the Motions

"I had to go through all the motions."

No one likes to go through the motions but sometimes we have to. Things don't always work and duty calls us to our post. Some life occurrences require steps one two and three before you get results.

I like to play golf. It is a relaxing game. Being outdoors and looking over the views of the course is calming and clears my mind. As much as I like the game I am not the best player. I can hit the ball well at times and I am sure with more practice I would get better but at times I have a nasty slice.

What makes all the difference is the motions. Mentally I have to slow myself down to think through the game and what I need to do in order to hit well. Distance, club, stance, hands, swing. If one of these is off then when I hit the ball I won't reach the hole. So I go through the motions.

In life, our habits can help us and the motions with clear thought can actually benefit us. If we can identify the goal, look at the process to get there and take the time to go through the motions we will end up where we want to be.

What are the motions you dread but know you have to go through? Are there any motions you enjoy going through?

Day 117 - Questions on the Battlefield

Before you read this post it would be a good idea to read 2 Kings chapter 3. It tells the story of kings going to battle and running out of resources along the way. One of the Kings is a godly man and asks if there is prophet nearby so they can hear what God says about their situation. The prophet gives them instruction that, when they follow, brings them a supernatural victory. It is from this passage of scripture that the following thoughts came last year.

"What battle is there to fight? What need has risen in the fight? What is the Word of The Lord? What work can I do in the natural and believe God for in the supernatural? God came through not only with provision but also with a supernatural victory. They defeated the enemy from where they were to the enemy's own territory."

The right question can often get us to the right place. The inner contemplation of the heart will show where we are at and where we need to go. Notice the progression of the questions:

"What battle is there to fight?" There are battles worth fighting and there are battles worth passing up.

"What need has risen in the fight?" Sometimes we are blind to our own need and other times our need is screaming at us. Our need will drive us to God or to despair. The wise will go to God because they know only He can take care of our needs.

"What is the Word of the Lord?" There is no way to proceed without a Word from God. We might as well turn back and get out of the fight without it.

"What work can I do in the natural and believe God for in the supernatural?" You put in the natural and God puts in the super. Together it makes a supernatural experience. Never despise hard work or effort. God used digging trenches to bring a victory.

What questions should you be asking? Is there a next question you would add to my series? 

Day 116 - A Grateful Heart

"Oh that my praise and thanksgiving could match the blessings that The Lord has poured out on me."

Try. 

I dare you. 

In the same measure that you are blessed... praise the Lord. That is the challenge.

Eventually you will run out of words. There are always more blessings than ways to say thank you. Maybe that is why the psalmist gave instruction to praise Him with instruments, loud shouts and applause. It is not the words that God hears anyway, it is your heart. 

So go on. Try to praise God more than you are blessed. I promise you will still have an abundance of blessings and run out of words. That is where you simply give your heart to the Lord and let Him listen to the inaudible praise that comes form the deepest part of who you are. 

Have you ever tried to praise the Lord more than He has blessed you? What other instructions on praise do you see in the Bible?

Day 115 - I Believe in Science

"At the mall as I was walking there was a woman outside of Victoria's Secret with a clip board. She saw me walking up and said hello and I said hello back. She told me she was raising money for pro-choice and women's rights because she didn't believe the government should tell women what to do with their bodies. I told her I was a Christian and a pastor to which she said a prompt goodbye to me. I asked why she was dismissing me and she said she didn't want to fight. I told her I didn't want to either and asked her why she didn't want to talk about God. She said she was an atheist because she believed what science says and then said goodbye to me again. I told her that there was a God who loves her passionately and she is missing out on a great relationship with Him. I ended my comments to her by suggesting she watch the movie "God's Not Dead" because it talks about science and then said goodbye."

My heart broke for this girl. She was so eager to talk to me until I said I was a Christian. She literally shut down. There was a passion for her cause and pep and a spark about the political issues until that moment and then it was all gone. I don't mind a good debate. I don't even mind a heated argument when appropriate. But this wasn't even a conversation. 

When I think back on what she did say to me it brings to my remembrance the scene in the movie Nacho Libre where his wrestling partner Esqueleto says that he believes in science. Nacho ends up semi-baptizing him with a bowl of water in a forceful sneak attack. While we may laugh at the ridiculous approach in this scene I think many people view Christians this way when it comes to serious questions they have about God, science, religion and the church. 

I could have fought to get my point across or pressed the issue but in these situations it is best to leave it alone and let the seed of love and the power of prayer take over. We can only change the opinion of people we are trying to reach by the methods Jesus gave us. Love and prayer. 

I would think that Jesus would have been more forceful in His approach. Even the disciples were waiting for Him to take His place as King and Messiah who would deliver Israel. And yet the methods Jesus used were love and prayer. To those who would listen Jesus would teach, speak, heal and bless. 

But what about those who wouldn't listen? Jesus said that we shouldn't cast our pearls before swine or give to the dogs that which is precious. It is so freeing to know that we can simply love people and not have to argue or be responsible to convince everyone that what we are saying is the truth. We can quietly wait while their hearts are softened so they can hear the gospel. 

I pray that girl at the mall I met last year has had other laborers sent across her path to water the seed I sowed. Hopefully I will meet her in Heaven and we can laugh about Nacho Libre together. 

What indicators do people give when they are ready or not ready to receive what you are presenting? How can we love them while we wait for the right time to speak to them again?