So the last time i wrote in my blog....people had no clue what the Swine Flu was, and the Kansas City Royals were not below .500! Other things have changed since then too. I am living in Derby, Kansas for the summer for a youth internship at First Christian Church. I'm staying with an awesome family....Dan and Jessi Stang. They have a 11-year-old son named Ryan that cracks me up! He is one smart little dude, and he makes miniature Ferris wheels and picture frames out of duct tape....really cool kid.
I'm going to keep you guys updated throughout the summer about whats going on in my life and in my head. To be perfectly honest with you...I am really nervous about this summer! For those of you that hang out with me, you know I can be outgoing when i hang out with you guys, but it is a different story when it comes to big crowds of people i don't know. The youth group I'm helping out with has around 50 kids in middles school and about 50 in high school. I'm used to an entire youth group being about 30 kids! Its a little overwhelming.
Last night was the first time I was able to meet some of the kids. They had a middle school swim party at someone's house, and there were about 40 kids there. I found myself kind of shying away from some of the kids, and I didn't know why. As I thought about it some more, I came to the conclusion that i wasn't confident in myself and my ability to get to know them. Confidence is something i never had a problem with when I was younger, but now it seems like confidence is hard to come by nowadays. I hate that about myself and I want to change!
What was really weird about this whole situation was that I just read Matthew 3 where it talks about John the Baptist and how Jesus wanted to get baptized by him, but it says that John tried to "deter" Jesus from that happening. The Baptist thought he wasn't worthy enough to tie Jesus' sandals, let alone baptize him! However, he humbly accepts Jesus' request to baptize Him. Sometimes we make excuses to why we don't fulfill what God has planned for us. For instance, I know without a doubt that God wants me to work with youth and bring them into a saving relationship with Him, but I make excuses like, "I'm not cool enough," or "I'm not outgoing enough for kids to like me." I need to quit making excuses and humbly accept Jesus request like John the Baptist.
I guess my question to you is, "What excuses are you making that are stopping you from humbly accepting Jesus' request in your life?"
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Grave is the Beginning
About a month ago, I was at baseball practice taking fly balls in the outfield, and I dove for a ball. Unfortunately, I rolled on top of my right wrist when I was diving, and I injured some ligament in my wrist. A few weeks went by and it was still bothering me, so I went to some doctor. He told me that I probably just sprained it, but there is a slight chance I tore it. If it was torn I was done playing baseball for the season!!!! He gave me some anti-inflammatory medicine which I finished that last dosage last Friday, and my wrist still hurts! So this is probably not a good sign for my baseball career. I really hope that it gets better because our first game is in one week from today. If I can't play I will be upset because I LOVE baseball, but that is not why I am here at Ozark. I will be content whatever my situation and continue to glorify God in my studies.
With all that sad stuff out of the way, its time for the good news.......or at least it should be.
Jesus has been crucified and has been laying dead in the tomb for about a day and half when we pick it up in Mark 16. We see three women walking to Jesus' tomb bringing spices for the body of Jesus, because by this time the body is rotting and beginning to smell. As I read this passage I began to ask myself, "What are these women thinking? How are they feeling?" People usually aren't really excited about death and the grave. For the most part, the grave represents the end of things. People try to do so many things before they die, because they cannot do them once they're dead!
The Apostles and the women probably thought the very same thing. The grave ended Jesus' ministry. They a good run at it. For three years they devoted themselves to this mans teachings and ways, but now that death has come into the picture, it is all lost. The plans they were hoping of restoration to God's people were no longer possible. But luckily God had something else in mind.......His plans were different.
Lets take a break from that story, and see what Jesus thought about death. In Luke 9:23 says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." How did Jesus die? O ya, on a cross! Apparently, Jesus wants everyone who wants to follow him to die? Yes, in a "spiritual" sense. Now some of the Apostles literally did take up there cross and were killed, but for 21st century Christians it means self-denial, complete dedication and willing obedience to Christ. This type of death also scares people, because it does mean the end of our plans. We will no longer be able to fulfill our selfish pleasures and wants.
Back to Mark 16. The women and all the believers thought that plans of Jesus were over. His promises of a new life of love and peace went with him to the grave, but when the women arrived at the grave they found it empty! The Grave couldn't kill Jesus or God's plan. After Jesus meets with the Apostles post-crucifixion, he stays with them for forty days and then ascends to be with God. The church then explodes! Peter gives a sermon during Pentecost and about 3,00o people were added to their number that day (Acts 2). God's plan of salvation didn't die with Jesus' death on the cross. His plan actually just began.
Sometimes people believe that the grave is the end of our plans, but in reality the grave is the beginning of God's plans. When we die to ourselves and pick up our cross daily entering a "spiritual" grave, God can finally begin to use us to fulfill His will. So I plead with everyone....we must die to our selfish desires and wants, and die to ourselves so God can begin his plan for us.
With all that sad stuff out of the way, its time for the good news.......or at least it should be.
Jesus has been crucified and has been laying dead in the tomb for about a day and half when we pick it up in Mark 16. We see three women walking to Jesus' tomb bringing spices for the body of Jesus, because by this time the body is rotting and beginning to smell. As I read this passage I began to ask myself, "What are these women thinking? How are they feeling?" People usually aren't really excited about death and the grave. For the most part, the grave represents the end of things. People try to do so many things before they die, because they cannot do them once they're dead!
The Apostles and the women probably thought the very same thing. The grave ended Jesus' ministry. They a good run at it. For three years they devoted themselves to this mans teachings and ways, but now that death has come into the picture, it is all lost. The plans they were hoping of restoration to God's people were no longer possible. But luckily God had something else in mind.......His plans were different.
Lets take a break from that story, and see what Jesus thought about death. In Luke 9:23 says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." How did Jesus die? O ya, on a cross! Apparently, Jesus wants everyone who wants to follow him to die? Yes, in a "spiritual" sense. Now some of the Apostles literally did take up there cross and were killed, but for 21st century Christians it means self-denial, complete dedication and willing obedience to Christ. This type of death also scares people, because it does mean the end of our plans. We will no longer be able to fulfill our selfish pleasures and wants.
Back to Mark 16. The women and all the believers thought that plans of Jesus were over. His promises of a new life of love and peace went with him to the grave, but when the women arrived at the grave they found it empty! The Grave couldn't kill Jesus or God's plan. After Jesus meets with the Apostles post-crucifixion, he stays with them for forty days and then ascends to be with God. The church then explodes! Peter gives a sermon during Pentecost and about 3,00o people were added to their number that day (Acts 2). God's plan of salvation didn't die with Jesus' death on the cross. His plan actually just began.
Sometimes people believe that the grave is the end of our plans, but in reality the grave is the beginning of God's plans. When we die to ourselves and pick up our cross daily entering a "spiritual" grave, God can finally begin to use us to fulfill His will. So I plead with everyone....we must die to our selfish desires and wants, and die to ourselves so God can begin his plan for us.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Plastic
Today is the day of love. Valentines Day is upon us, and is smacking every single person in the face. It seems to me that Valentines Day is being advertised more than ever. I don't know if it is because this is this first time in a long time I haven't had to celebrate it so I noticed it more, or our economy sucks and they want people to spend money. Whatever the reason, Valentines day is here.
This morning I went to the grocery store with my parents to buy some snacks for the KANSAS/kansas state basketball game. I used to work at this store, so I know a couple of people who still work there. As I was walking through the produce section, I saw a guy that has been working at the store for a long time. We used to talk a lot during our breaks, and he could always crack me up.
As he was putting the yogurt in their places on the shelf, he began to tell me what was going on in his life. He had divorced his wife a couple of years ago with whom he had a seven-year-old son. His wife accused him of child molestation, child pornography and many other cruel accusations. She ended up getting custody because of these insane lies, and he doesn't get to see his son that much anymore. This guy has recently been remarried with a woman who already has 3 daughters, and together they have a two-year-old son. To add on top of all of this crap, he never graduated college, so he doesn't have a degree where he can make good money. He is barely getting by with his pay from the store. According to him, his "life sucks."
When I walked away from this guy, it hit me. I am living in a fallen world. This fallen world has people who are blind and have nothing but letdown after letdown come into their lives. People are searching for some stability and purpose, but their search comes up empty. This world was created as a perfect place where man and God could live together in love. Unfortunately, sin entered the picture and things have not been right since.
I hate seeing people like my friend from the store hurting. This is REAL life. Going to Ozark Christian College, it is easy to get in the "Ozark Christian College Bubble." By this I mean, we don't see the pain and hurt that goes on in the world, because we are surrounded by other Christians who appear to have everything figured out. But I don't live in a plastic world where Barbi and Ken end up happily married for the rest of their lives. This is REAL life!
My friend who's "life sucks," needs someone to show him the light in a dark world. This light gives stability in the midst of instability. It gives hope to the hopeless, and it offers love where there is hate. I do not live in plastic world, but I do live in a world where REAL people are lost in the darkness.
This morning I went to the grocery store with my parents to buy some snacks for the KANSAS/kansas state basketball game. I used to work at this store, so I know a couple of people who still work there. As I was walking through the produce section, I saw a guy that has been working at the store for a long time. We used to talk a lot during our breaks, and he could always crack me up.
As he was putting the yogurt in their places on the shelf, he began to tell me what was going on in his life. He had divorced his wife a couple of years ago with whom he had a seven-year-old son. His wife accused him of child molestation, child pornography and many other cruel accusations. She ended up getting custody because of these insane lies, and he doesn't get to see his son that much anymore. This guy has recently been remarried with a woman who already has 3 daughters, and together they have a two-year-old son. To add on top of all of this crap, he never graduated college, so he doesn't have a degree where he can make good money. He is barely getting by with his pay from the store. According to him, his "life sucks."
When I walked away from this guy, it hit me. I am living in a fallen world. This fallen world has people who are blind and have nothing but letdown after letdown come into their lives. People are searching for some stability and purpose, but their search comes up empty. This world was created as a perfect place where man and God could live together in love. Unfortunately, sin entered the picture and things have not been right since.
I hate seeing people like my friend from the store hurting. This is REAL life. Going to Ozark Christian College, it is easy to get in the "Ozark Christian College Bubble." By this I mean, we don't see the pain and hurt that goes on in the world, because we are surrounded by other Christians who appear to have everything figured out. But I don't live in a plastic world where Barbi and Ken end up happily married for the rest of their lives. This is REAL life!
My friend who's "life sucks," needs someone to show him the light in a dark world. This light gives stability in the midst of instability. It gives hope to the hopeless, and it offers love where there is hate. I do not live in plastic world, but I do live in a world where REAL people are lost in the darkness.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Hurting
The Spring Semester is in full swing! Three weeks have come and gone, and papers and tests have arrived. I have always enjoyed starting a new semester, because it gives you the opportunity to start things on the right foot. I always vow to be more studious than the previous semester, but for some reason I end up getting stuck in the root of mediocrity. You know? Just doing enough to get by. However, so far this semester I have been true to my vow about my studies. I am actually on top of all of my required reading and homework! This semester is looking good.
Not only are the academics on all four cylinders, but also the athletics. I play on the Ozark Baseball team, and we have been working out for the past three weeks. We run, lift weights, throw the ball around and hit in the cage. Sometimes it gets pretty depressing knowing that we still won't play a real game for another month, but all of our hard work will pay off when the season rolls around. Besides playing on the baseball team, I play on an intramural basketball team called the Gamophobes (the fear of marriage). We had our first game last night, and we played very good! WE won by 18 points, and we upset the #1 team which catapulted us to the top of the rankings.
But on a serious note, sports are not everything. They have always played a huge role in my life, but I do not live for sports. I am not attending Ozark so I can play sports. I am at OCC so I can better equip myself to lead teenagers to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Since high school, I have known that I wanted to go to Ozark, but I never really felt a strong passion for youth ministry. I guess I was just doing it, so I could have a plan for my life.
But this semester has really opened my heart and my eyes to what youth ministry is about. It is not an occupation but a mission. I am reading a book for my Counseling to Youth class called Hurt. This book takes a look inside the world of today's teenagers. Personally, I look around and I see kids who have no purpose. They try to find worth in friends, sex, and material objects. Their search never ends because nothing will satisfy them. I want to....I NEED to help the youth of America find that they do have purpose and love in their life. Even if they can't find it in their families or friends, Jesus has what they need. Teenagers need to know that they are loved by an all-powerful God who would do anything to have them in his family. He would even go so far as to kill his own son.
Before I felt like I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, but now God has instilled within me a passion for teenagers. I Hurt for the kids who have not met my Jesus, and I want to show Him to them. What are you hurting for?
Not only are the academics on all four cylinders, but also the athletics. I play on the Ozark Baseball team, and we have been working out for the past three weeks. We run, lift weights, throw the ball around and hit in the cage. Sometimes it gets pretty depressing knowing that we still won't play a real game for another month, but all of our hard work will pay off when the season rolls around. Besides playing on the baseball team, I play on an intramural basketball team called the Gamophobes (the fear of marriage). We had our first game last night, and we played very good! WE won by 18 points, and we upset the #1 team which catapulted us to the top of the rankings.
But on a serious note, sports are not everything. They have always played a huge role in my life, but I do not live for sports. I am not attending Ozark so I can play sports. I am at OCC so I can better equip myself to lead teenagers to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Since high school, I have known that I wanted to go to Ozark, but I never really felt a strong passion for youth ministry. I guess I was just doing it, so I could have a plan for my life.
But this semester has really opened my heart and my eyes to what youth ministry is about. It is not an occupation but a mission. I am reading a book for my Counseling to Youth class called Hurt. This book takes a look inside the world of today's teenagers. Personally, I look around and I see kids who have no purpose. They try to find worth in friends, sex, and material objects. Their search never ends because nothing will satisfy them. I want to....I NEED to help the youth of America find that they do have purpose and love in their life. Even if they can't find it in their families or friends, Jesus has what they need. Teenagers need to know that they are loved by an all-powerful God who would do anything to have them in his family. He would even go so far as to kill his own son.
Before I felt like I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, but now God has instilled within me a passion for teenagers. I Hurt for the kids who have not met my Jesus, and I want to show Him to them. What are you hurting for?
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Great Romance
I am like most people on this earth...Not only do I breathe oxygen and I poop, but I love movies! They are so entertaining. I like action-packed films, movies that have plots thickened with mystery, and the occasional happy-go-lucky movie that makes you want to smile and change the world. However, I will watch a chick-flick from time to time. I'll even squirt out a couple of tears to appease the females in the room. Then they can finally confirm their thoughts..."wow...Charlie really is a cool guy who appeals to his emotional side...I should date him."
But on a serious note, these "chick-flicks" are full of romance and love. Women love these stories of true romance when a man will fight to the end for his beloved, even if it costs him his life. There are other movies like "A Walk to Remember" that just shows a guy's pure motive for chasing after a girl...love. Why do girls like these types of movies, and dream that they too may one day find that type of love? Because the real world does a crappy job of displaying pure, selfless love.
The truth of the matter is that the Greatest Romantic story was not made in Hollywood, California but on a wooden cross 2,000 years ago. That is The Great Romance.
This break I read a book that outlined what The Great Romance looked like. It was a fictional story, but it really opened up my eyes to how great the love of our God is. He died for us, because we are not willing to die to ourselves. To be completely honest, I did get a little teary-eyed when I finished this book. I felt so stupid, because I believed that ONLY girls could like romance and love stories, and here I am blubbering over something called The Great Romance!
No one is too tough and manly to accept God's love. He is in love with everybody...even guys. It has just been kind of hard for me to acknowledge and accept this love because I seems so un-manly to be loved and romanticized. But God's love is the greatest love story on the earth, and I do accept it and cherish, and I hope you do the same.
O......and happy new year.
But on a serious note, these "chick-flicks" are full of romance and love. Women love these stories of true romance when a man will fight to the end for his beloved, even if it costs him his life. There are other movies like "A Walk to Remember" that just shows a guy's pure motive for chasing after a girl...love. Why do girls like these types of movies, and dream that they too may one day find that type of love? Because the real world does a crappy job of displaying pure, selfless love.
The truth of the matter is that the Greatest Romantic story was not made in Hollywood, California but on a wooden cross 2,000 years ago. That is The Great Romance.
This break I read a book that outlined what The Great Romance looked like. It was a fictional story, but it really opened up my eyes to how great the love of our God is. He died for us, because we are not willing to die to ourselves. To be completely honest, I did get a little teary-eyed when I finished this book. I felt so stupid, because I believed that ONLY girls could like romance and love stories, and here I am blubbering over something called The Great Romance!
No one is too tough and manly to accept God's love. He is in love with everybody...even guys. It has just been kind of hard for me to acknowledge and accept this love because I seems so un-manly to be loved and romanticized. But God's love is the greatest love story on the earth, and I do accept it and cherish, and I hope you do the same.
O......and happy new year.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Stop Drinking Poison!
Things I have learned this Christmas Break, so far:
1) There is no greater relationship a person can have on earth than that with family.
2) Santa Claus isn't real.
3) Young married couples are very hospitable, but very nauseating using terms of endearment for each other like "Big Daddy" and "Sexy Momma" in front of everyone. (I love you James!)
4) You know you are getting older when your best Christmas present isn't a toy. (depressing)
5) A dog really is a man's best friend. They are always by your side even though you've already fed them...unlike Satan's creation the cat.
6) Apparently, I am going to live in Topeka for the rest of my life. (I took a quiz at www.findyourspot.com...Its pretty fun, you should try it!)
7) Ted Dekker is an amazing author...read him!
8) Losing to your Mom in picking who wins the NCAA football bowl games is very humbling....and embarrassing.
9) Boredom is an ever-present enemy waiting to take hold of you!
10) God is very patient.
Now I will admit that most of these things are pretty shallow but a couple of them have some depth to them. For instance, number nine is very true and real! Boredom is the best word to describe my Christmas break. Basically my days consist of waking up, watching college football, and reading. Here and There I have gotten out of the house to play some basketball or hang out at someone's house, but mostly it is just being by myself at home.
I just looked up boredom in my Macmillan Dictionary for Children and it says that it is the condition of being tired or restless by being uninteresting and dull. Someone once said that "Boredom is the deadliest poison." I could not agree with this statement more. Having been gulping this poison down for about 2 weeks now, I realized it is my own fault. How can I become "tired or restless" with this life God has given me. Of course there will be moments when we feel bored with things in this life, but we should NEVER be bored with our God-given lives. How can something as beautiful as life be considered "uninteresting and dull?" If we are dying from boredom, it is our own fault. There are many things we can do to make our lives full of purpose and anti-boredom. Instead of trying to entertain ourselves, we should strive to entertain others. This can come in many forms, but i think the best thing we can do is just to give other people our attention and focus by listening and talking to them. If we are bored with our own lives, then why not take the focus off of our own lives and try to dive into someone else's life? It sounds like a great cure to boredom to me, so lets stop drinking that deadly poison called boredom and live life!
1) There is no greater relationship a person can have on earth than that with family.
2) Santa Claus isn't real.
3) Young married couples are very hospitable, but very nauseating using terms of endearment for each other like "Big Daddy" and "Sexy Momma" in front of everyone. (I love you James!)
4) You know you are getting older when your best Christmas present isn't a toy. (depressing)
5) A dog really is a man's best friend. They are always by your side even though you've already fed them...unlike Satan's creation the cat.
6) Apparently, I am going to live in Topeka for the rest of my life. (I took a quiz at www.findyourspot.com...Its pretty fun, you should try it!)
7) Ted Dekker is an amazing author...read him!
8) Losing to your Mom in picking who wins the NCAA football bowl games is very humbling....and embarrassing.
9) Boredom is an ever-present enemy waiting to take hold of you!
10) God is very patient.
Now I will admit that most of these things are pretty shallow but a couple of them have some depth to them. For instance, number nine is very true and real! Boredom is the best word to describe my Christmas break. Basically my days consist of waking up, watching college football, and reading. Here and There I have gotten out of the house to play some basketball or hang out at someone's house, but mostly it is just being by myself at home.
I just looked up boredom in my Macmillan Dictionary for Children and it says that it is the condition of being tired or restless by being uninteresting and dull. Someone once said that "Boredom is the deadliest poison." I could not agree with this statement more. Having been gulping this poison down for about 2 weeks now, I realized it is my own fault. How can I become "tired or restless" with this life God has given me. Of course there will be moments when we feel bored with things in this life, but we should NEVER be bored with our God-given lives. How can something as beautiful as life be considered "uninteresting and dull?" If we are dying from boredom, it is our own fault. There are many things we can do to make our lives full of purpose and anti-boredom. Instead of trying to entertain ourselves, we should strive to entertain others. This can come in many forms, but i think the best thing we can do is just to give other people our attention and focus by listening and talking to them. If we are bored with our own lives, then why not take the focus off of our own lives and try to dive into someone else's life? It sounds like a great cure to boredom to me, so lets stop drinking that deadly poison called boredom and live life!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Falling Bricks
Wow! I am hurting big time. I just got home from playing basketball at the church, and my knees are killing me! I had ACL surgery on my left knee about four years, but instead of fixing my ACL I think they just replaced my entire knee with one from a seventy-year-old. However, I can't blame my poor shooting tonight on my knee...that blame will go to the slippery gym floor. You could say i threw up a couple of "bricks." (I think thats gangster for a bad shot, but I will ask Jim later)
In life there are people you love, people you hate, and people you just put up with because you have to. Open Gym for Basketball at my church brings in a plethora of people. There are fifty-year-old man and there are teenagers. There are preachers and there are people who just got out of prison. There are Black people and White people. There are people easy to love and there are people how make it hard for you to like them. All of these people come together every Monday at Town and Country Christian Church to play basketball.
There are two particular people that play basketball who would be in the "people who make it hard for you to like them" category. All they do is whine about how they always get fouled, but they never foul anyone. Every time they get the ball, they either shoot it, or they drive to the basketball screaming "FOUL!" as they are going up to shoot. Tonight was particularly bad and annoying for these two guys. I finally had enough and whispered to a guy who used to be an elder, "I really don't like these guys." He replied with a quick, "Yea, me neither." As I walked to the other end of the court, it hit me like God had dropped a brick out of heaven to hit me right on my ignorant big head. These guys don't know Christ, and they are going to hell if they don't know Jesus. Open Gym on Monday night is not for me to come work on my jump shot and run up and down the court. It is a ministry to get them in the church, and then to bring them to Christ somehow.
Ironically, earlier today before basketball I went to lunch with David, Jim and one of my friends from K-State Rachel. We went to Subway, and all of us men got a 5 Dollar Foot long (I love those commercials)! Rachel wussed out and got a 6 inch, but I'm not holding that against her. Anyways, we sat in Subway for about 40 more minutes discussing discipleship and evangelism. It was an awesome conversation and great encouragement. Someone brought up the point that it isn't right how some people evangelize. Some people come off as door-to-door salesman trying to "sell" Jesus. Their motives are selfish and ignorant. They try to bring people to Christ because they feel like if they don't, God will strike them down with leprosy or something. We all came to the conclusion that loving God and loving people should be the only reason we try to evangelize. If we are not loving people, we become salespeople who try to sell a Savior.
How come I had a great discussion with my friends about loving people and bringing them to Christ, and then turn around six hours later talk about how I hate two guys who might be going to Hell because I am too lazy and apathetic to show them Jesus? I have no clue, but I am thankful that God had a brick handy to wake me up from my stupidity.
In life there are people you love, people you hate, and people you just put up with because you have to. Open Gym for Basketball at my church brings in a plethora of people. There are fifty-year-old man and there are teenagers. There are preachers and there are people who just got out of prison. There are Black people and White people. There are people easy to love and there are people how make it hard for you to like them. All of these people come together every Monday at Town and Country Christian Church to play basketball.
There are two particular people that play basketball who would be in the "people who make it hard for you to like them" category. All they do is whine about how they always get fouled, but they never foul anyone. Every time they get the ball, they either shoot it, or they drive to the basketball screaming "FOUL!" as they are going up to shoot. Tonight was particularly bad and annoying for these two guys. I finally had enough and whispered to a guy who used to be an elder, "I really don't like these guys." He replied with a quick, "Yea, me neither." As I walked to the other end of the court, it hit me like God had dropped a brick out of heaven to hit me right on my ignorant big head. These guys don't know Christ, and they are going to hell if they don't know Jesus. Open Gym on Monday night is not for me to come work on my jump shot and run up and down the court. It is a ministry to get them in the church, and then to bring them to Christ somehow.
Ironically, earlier today before basketball I went to lunch with David, Jim and one of my friends from K-State Rachel. We went to Subway, and all of us men got a 5 Dollar Foot long (I love those commercials)! Rachel wussed out and got a 6 inch, but I'm not holding that against her. Anyways, we sat in Subway for about 40 more minutes discussing discipleship and evangelism. It was an awesome conversation and great encouragement. Someone brought up the point that it isn't right how some people evangelize. Some people come off as door-to-door salesman trying to "sell" Jesus. Their motives are selfish and ignorant. They try to bring people to Christ because they feel like if they don't, God will strike them down with leprosy or something. We all came to the conclusion that loving God and loving people should be the only reason we try to evangelize. If we are not loving people, we become salespeople who try to sell a Savior.
How come I had a great discussion with my friends about loving people and bringing them to Christ, and then turn around six hours later talk about how I hate two guys who might be going to Hell because I am too lazy and apathetic to show them Jesus? I have no clue, but I am thankful that God had a brick handy to wake me up from my stupidity.
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