Just recently a very nice man died suddenly. One of his relatives asked "Did he believe in Christ?" the answer sadly was "I am not sure."
This in itself would be motivation enough to start up a conversation with some one you may have a similar question about? If you are so motivated and have introduced each other the next step is to listen to them. What are they passionate about? What do they value?
This is the part of witnessing we forget about, to listen and then listen some more. Too often we feel it is "telling them ". That is why everyone gets turned off. Witnessing has a lot to do with you genuinely loving them and listening to their story. You can tell God's story later.
Its time to "walk across the room" remember pray before you do it.

Living in 3D

Why would a nice person want to bring up one of those "forbidden topics" in a conversation? You know, religion! Because I want them to know the same wonderful life I have. I have a savior who loves me as I am and offers me to live as I was created to be. So it is not just simply walking across the room and striking up a conversation. It is much more. I want those who share my earthly life to be with me forever. So I do have a mindset as I go about my day. Living a 3D life.*

• Develop friendships- I want to engage as many people I can into a relationship with me and Jesus
• Develop stories - I need to work on a short story with a little personal humor about my life with God
• Discern the next steps- remember the Holy Spirit is in charge so I let her take the lead.

On a scale of 1-10 where would you rate yourself on a 3D life?

*Thanks to Bill Hybels for the idea.

Just walk across the room

What if you knew that by simply crossing the room and saying hello to someone, you could change that person's life forever? Just a few steps could make an eternal difference. it has nothing to do with methods and everything to do with making a genuine interest in another human being. All you need is a heart that's in tune with God and a willingness to venture out of your circle of comfort.
This summer I read a book I think all Christians should read Just Walk Across The Room by Bill Hybels. This book brings the need for all of us to share the wonderful news of Jesus to those whom we rub shoulders with in life. It is an easy book to read and has thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter.
This is what I propose that you go out and buy a copy of the book. ( You can order it on line or get it at a book store.) Then starting Monday September 7 you go to www. Belviderezion.com and click "spiritual web " on the lower left hand side. Now you are set to join in on the conversation.

Pentecost is more than a day it is a season. The problem is that most people know very little about his wonderful festival day. Maybe that is fitting. Since it is about the Holy Spirit. Being holy means that he is divine in nature and can not be controlled or manipulated. Being a spirit he is elusive and yet powerfull. Maybe it is fitting to refer to the third person as "she". When you study the spirits part in the the divine community we call the trinity, you can see that she is to empower, guide and inspire. All of these terms to me are about nurturing which comes more naturally to females than males. What do you think?
Yesterday I read over Ezekiel 37 and saw that I am to "prophesy to the breath or spirit of God". So join me in asking the spirit to inspire God's people to do ministry and to do it in community.

New life nevers coems quietly

New life never slips in the back door quietly or painlessly. Every birth in only the beginning a whole set of disruptions. So is the Resurrection. In the Gospel of Luke the disciples and the women were resigned to the power of death. From the very first words in chapter 24 however the old script is changed. Luke's account of the resurrection begins with a powerful disruption in the form of a single three letter word,but.
2000 years later when our violence world scares us and the economy abandons us we are still disrupted by the simple word., but Luke announces that hope is not dead and the tomb is the beginning of new life.
This new life comes alive in us. How will you show that you trust in this surprising good news?
How will you rebel against the power of sin, death and the devil?

Difficult moments or experiences can often signal the beginning of a new work or stage in one's life and development. God often uses these defining moments, called transitions to take Christ followers from where they are to where they need to be. Transitions play an important role in getting from somewhere, to somewhere else, and to hearing those words, "well done!"
As 2009 offers us a bunch of transitions do we see it as the hand of God or just another fact of life I need to endure?