I would wager that if asked the question, “How well do you know the “gospel” by heart?” most of us would raise our hand. I bet we would even think that we would have the best chance at knowing it but also the best chance at really not being able to communicate it all that clearly in 1 minute or less.

Get out your stop watch, wrist watch, or complete weather, directional, and multi-functional Axis Highgear camping phenom watch and time yourself. A quick shot. You’re on the bus, a conversation has struck up between you and a kid you don’t even know. You have one minute. Introduce to them the gospel. A nugget, leave them with something or the whole thing. Go.

It’ll be rough, not perfect, and I bet I would fail as well. Just not as bad. Change the situation. You have two minutes. You’re in a conversation before class. A friend says, “I just don’t get why we make such a big deal about Jesus’ death. Why is it so important anyway?” Go.

The idea isn’t to embarrass. It’s to expose a need. The need to know and internalize the Gospel in different forms, in different ways, for different venues, and different people. The four laws is a complete, clear and effective way to share the gospel so that someone can understand and respond if time allows. But sometimes time doesn’t allow and you don’t have a four laws in your pocket. So then what? Peter says to be prepared in the HUB and out of the HUB. Without your discipler and with your discipler. Translation mine.

Jesus was the ultimate story teller and he told stories to illustrate a point about the kingdom, or salvation, or God’s love. I want you to look at a few.

Luke is filled with stories. Let’s look at three. Luke 14:15-24, Luke 15:11-31, Luke 18:9-14. Read these stories and pull out some concepts or ideas Jesus was trying to get across. Not just the obvious ones, but see if you can extract some lessons within the lessons.

Some questions to ponder. Why did Jesus tell stories? What stories did he tell and how did he tell them? For example, the story of the prodigal son. Why did he tell that story and how do you imagine he communicated it? 90% percent of communication is non-verbals or something like that. Imagine what Jesus’ non-verbals were like. Other than being the son of God, why was he able to tell good stories/illustrations?

The take away is this. We should know these stories and be able to tell them well. At the very basic level, we should be able to present to someone a clear illustration of what God’s love is like, what his son is like, and what the kingdom is like. We have some stories that can help you do that. Share with them How Death Shows Love, and the Indian Chief. Take any illustration of Jesus’ and make them modern. He didn’t copyright them, use them. Also, the best way to do this, is to internalize the message. And one way we can do that is to memorize it. And the easiest tool to use would be the Four Laws. If you can master and memorize that, you’re on your way to being a master story teller.

SO, here’s your assignment. Memorize the Four Laws. Take a week and memorize the whole stinking thing. Eat it, chew on it, carry the book around until it tatters in your back pocket and it is hardly recognizable to anyone and you are forced to repeat it to them verbally and without error.

If you accomplish that, memorize the two illustrations found on the Compass about how death shows love. When you’ve mastered that, take an illustration Jesus used and see if you can adapt it for our time. And on the way, if you’re able to share them with someone, anyone, go ahead. Trust the Holy Spirit to speak through you. He’s had them memorized for a while now. He could show you some pointers.

Tags: stories, gospel, evangelism, narrative theology

Ok, this is pretty important so, I thought I would share the wealth. Often people don't know the difference between a latte or frappiccino and for me, that's ok. But almost as many leaders don't know the difference between a vision and a mission.

This is vital.

1. A mission statement concerns what an enterprise is all about.

2. A vision statement is what the enterprise wants to become.

As a side note, strategic planning is a systematic process whose purpose is to map out how the enterprise should get from where it is today to the future it envisions.

So there you have it. It's that simple.

Tags: vision, mission

Good works, good deeds. What does that mean, exactly? Traditionally, good works are something akin to helping an old lady down the street with carrying her groceries. A good deed would be holding the door for an elderly gentleman hobbling slowly with his cane or, doing some service project like collecting winter coats for the homeless or serving hot coffee outside of main hall on your local podunk campus. I believe they are but this is a much limited view.

A good work. A good deed. They represent the kingdom, in any form. A kingdom of love, hope, and where the other man is held in higher esteem than you, and vice versa. Participating in good works and good deeds can easily be over looked by those with so narrow a view as to what these “deeds and works” actually should be.

I submit they are more than we think.

Could cheerleading be a good deed? Does bringing hope into a situation or life into a grave bottom of the ninth disaster count as a good deed? Is it enough that a ray of sun from the kingdom of light, though small and somewhat unrecognizable to the common eye count as a good deed? Does representing Christ in our smile, our conversation, and willingness to be a fool so that life is brought, if just for a moment, into the lost lives around you?

I believe that it is. Especially if you intend to do just that.

Jutty, Dan, Jimmy, Roy and I attended a baseball game. Americas past time. Embedded in a sea of humanity we decided to bring life. We were jovial, were friendly, we were Christ like. With the father and his two sons, one with a clear physical disability, we engaged in conversation, banter, and humbly gave the eldest son a dollar for simply being a boy. To the girl three rows back we were the sparks that just might create enough stir to get the wave started. She was our biggest fan yet we knew we couldn’t stop, she wanted the wave started as much as we did. To the couple in front of us a friendly conversation turned to spiritual things and briefly we were of common understanding that there was something worth living for and God was the center of that particular movement. And to the woman standing near a free massage booth, a friendly conversation from a kind man who loves Jesus and simply talked to her because she too was made in His fathers image.

Good works, good deeds. When intentional about bringing the kingdom through our actions, life can have all sorts of good works and good deeds. Some are just praised more than others. Ours was simple and, probably in other’s view unworthy of mention.

At least, not in this life.

Tags: life, works, baseball, good

i just turned thirty and i swear it feels like 29. go figure.

danae threw me a surprise party and she got me pretty good. i've been looking forward to thirty for some time now. I was sick of being a twentysomething. I have two kids, been married for 6 years, and currently lead a ministry of college students who at some point look to me for guidance.

thirty is when life starts. you're smarter about stuff. stuff like, worrying about what people think of you. yeah, it happens, but, less and less i think it will affect me. finances. you begin to realize, hey wait, this isn't my money. maybe i shouldn't spend it all on me. Jesus started his ministry at 30 or so. that should tell you something.

if thirty is good enough for the son of god to say, well, i better get this started, then, things are looking up. thanks for all you who contributed to fooling me into thinking there was no party. i believed you.

on a downside, i now drive a minivan. it was against my will, and i held out until danae signed the papers. i like it, the van, i just don't like owning one or people seeing me driving it. like i said, i only care what people think of me sometimes. .

Tags: birthday, minivan, surprise party

Starting a conversation is easy. We do it all the time. “Hey, does this loop go to the
commons?” “Why, yes it does.” It’s that easy.

What makes a conversation good is when we actually feel like we’ve met another humanbeing on this planet who cares. What makes a conversation great, is when we walk
away knowing that we’ve encouraged or made someone feel a little bit better. What
makes a conversation the greatest, is when we introduce Jesus and the other person is
more the wiser and closer to knowing him. So why are some better than others at talking to complete strangers? I don’t know. Lot’s of reasons. Personalities, experience, or
just plain dumb luck. A lot has to do with the other persons demeanor, personality, age,
gender, etc. There are a ton of factors that go into reasons why people respond the way
they do.

But, there are some things that never change. For instance, people generally like
friendly people. That is a no brainer. Second, the more awkward you are, the more
awkward they’ll be. If you’re relaxed, most people will relax right along with you. And, if
you have something worthwhile to say, then others won’t mind hearing it. What takes
the cake is, and this my friends will never, ever change. Ever.

The number one thing people like to talk about most is...themselves.

So how do we bridge from talking about ourselves, to talking about Jesus, and then talking about the raging burning fires of hell. Hmm. Let’s skip the hell part.

Read the passage from Mark 2:13-17. Jesus was a friend of sinners. He ate, drank, sat in smelly smoke filled houses where the floor stunk like stale beer and posters of naked girls were hanging. Someone told a crass joke and Jesus chuckled responding with a parable that brought the truth to light. He was friend to those in need, who were sick, who were, sinners. So should we. We need to engage, no matter how briefly.

Have an honest moment with yourself. What don’t you like about your friends? Why don’t you go to their parties, what did you come from that repulses you now, why won’t you go back? How do you feel about gays, about cursing. How does it make you feel? Feelings of awkwardness, of despise, hatred of sin could be some good reasons.

Hmm.

Ok, so how about our incessant fear about talking to strangers. Why is it so freaking hard!! Personally, and generally. Mesh the two together, and no one will ever hear about the gospel. Sometimes our biggest fear is that once we start talking, we may actually make a friend and have to spend time. OR, they may ask us a question about something we don’t know. Yeah, that happens. But it’s ok.

See also John 14:26. Jesus has given us a helper, essentially, he is right there
with us. And if we trust him, and act like we trust him to come through in a clutch, then
things will happen.

You played a role Holy Spirit, you played a role.

So, what the heck are we doing. Go ye out in pairs and spread the good news of conversation. Those who are scared to talk to strangers, hook up with those who talk with anything, including walls. Step out of your comfort zone. the stronger one, encourage and prod the weaker one. You can do it. Have fun, be someone you’re normally not for an hour.

Your goal: to engage in as many natural conversations as possible without looking like
you’re crazy. Can you use your surroundings or the situation they are in to start a conversation naturally. “Ride the bus often?” “Are you from Boston?” “Dude, how long you
been a Eagles fan? Are you from Philly?” “I hate this weather. You mind it? Where you
from?”

Can you use a hat, a button, a shirt, a book, a location, anything to say something
to someone that could spark a conversation. Then can you ask them a question
that bridges from the first observation to something more personal. “You’re from Philly? What High School did you go to? Oh, I went to..” “Is that a Nano? Sweet. How
many songs do you have on there? What’s on your fav playlist?” Can you learn their
name, where they are from, what their major is? How far can you go before it’s like,
awkward. Or better yet, how far can you go where they wouldn’t be weirded out by you
asking them about their faith.

Can you do it? I bet you can.

Where: On a loop bus, one going towards south and one heading back. At Sykes, Burger King, Einsteins, the Quad, or on the street. Strabucks, or anywhere downtown. At a
crosswalk waiting for busy traffic. At the Fennario's Coffee thing where you can blend in with others. How many places can you use to your advantage too connect with someone you don’t know. Once you do, move to another location far away.

Do life, and on the way, start conversations.

What do we talk about: Here are the subjects you can use. Where are they from, what is
their family like, what’s their major, how long have they been here, where do they live in
State College, do they watch Lost, are they religious, do they like coffee. Do they live
near your hometown, if so, do you know their high school, if so, do you know someone
from their high school, if so, ask how they are doing, share a story.

Bonus points include: Anyone you get to talk to you about their spiritual experience here
on campus. Anyone you get who will talk to you about what they think happens after
death. Anyone you get in return who asks you what you believe. And anyone who you
can actually set up an appointment later to talk further.

How many conversations? Shoot for 15. That’s right fifteen. Maybe twenty. Not every
one is going to be rich with content. Warm up. Make small talk. As you get warmer, your guts get stronger. Be constantly asking the Holy Spirit to lead you and see what he does. Then come back, and share the stories. If you don’t come back, we’ll expect a cool story next week.