Fear - Trust - & Starting Seminary

So Today was "New Student Orientation" at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. I had to wake up bright and early, or rather dark and early because it was definitely before sun up, to journey south to Dallas. I was prepared to learn about how things were going to work with my schedule and classes as well as learning all about campus resources to make sure that I can get the most out of my seminary experience.

I learned a bit about all of those things, and especially about the "The Call" from Herbert Coleman specifically. I learned that I need to make sure I have a light breakfast on days when I have the opportunity to eat lunch at Perkins because the chef is amazing! We had a great lunch of wild rice and chicken breast in a rosemary sauce that quickly revealed my gluttonous side.

But for me today was more about fear and trust.

Understand that the process for me ending up in seminary is quite a long one. I have had an inkling that I was supposed to attend Perkins as early in my life as my freshman year of college. At one point the thought was to go immediately after undergrad, at another it was to not go at all, and at another point this was exactly the plan to start in the fall of 13. I then distracted myself and again tried to ignore that for me to fulfill my calling Perkins was in my future.

October of 2012 I officially declared as a candidate for ministry in the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. The call became overwhelming and the tugging on my heart to pursue that call was saying "Go Now!" There was an urgency behind it and I am still not sure why. So I hit the ground running and even in the midst of becoming a new dad and working full time, I managed to go from my pastors office that day in October all the way to a Certified Candidate by the District Committee on Ministry and admitted as a student to Perkins to start this fall. Certainly The Holy Spirit has had a hand in this, I on my own strength have been nothing but overwhelmed.

So here I am, enrolled in 2 classes, a total of 6 hours ready to get started on my Masters of Divinity understanding that seminary costs a lot of money, yet not wanting to take on any additional student loans. My wife and I have a combined income just high enough for there to not really be any "need based" financial aid. They seem to be overlooking what we still owe in student loans from my time at McMurry, and that we still owe around 5 grand for having a baby (we even had insurance). Speaking of insurance, those rates went through the roof to cover both George and Kim, and doesn't have much impact on the $72 charge for "weight checks" George has needed nearly every 2 weeks since he was born because he is only in the 1% for height and weight.

Could you read the anxiety about finances written between the lines in my last paragraph? Well it is there, not because we can't survive, but because my calling requires some really expensive school. $5,066 bucks for 6 credit hours to be exact, and that is not counting parking passes, gas for commuting, or books. In the past if we got tight on money I would just pick up extra work, but at the moment I am pretty pressed for time as it is wondering if we can handle both Kim and I working full time, me going to school, and us doing our best to raise George.

Today my anxiety went all the way to full blown fear. The fear has some to do with the money and some to do with time. However, behind the money and the time lies the reality that it is time to do the heavy lifting. It is time to actually take the classes, work the job, and raise the kid all at the same time. So the question that I fear is not can I afford it, or do I have the time, but rather "Am I good enough?" That question is persuaded and influenced by time, money, my past, and other people who will from time to time make unknowing comments of judgement and condemnation.

I keep telling myself that God will provide and focusing in conversation about my fears on the financial side of things. I KNOW that to be true with the experiences of my life so far, when you live as if life is not about money God takes care of it in one way or another. Heck, I took an 18% pay cut from one job in ministry to another by following where God was leading me, and it has turned out to be an amazing experience that has enriched my life in so many ways. So knowing that God will provide is not an issue, but in times like today, when I can't see how God is going to pull off yet another miracle I have trouble trusting that he can do it.

Trusting that God can do something. Now that is crazy. God only made the world in 7 days and still had time to take a day off! Christ conquered even death.


If God can do anything, if God can provide, if God can have enough time, if God has called me to this, It is time for me to live out the Trust part. Because in my weakness God's glory is displayed. Because trusting God can, trusting that God is good, trusting that God has a plan... That is what the Kingdom of God looks like.

All we have to do is faithfully put one foot in front of the other, walking by faith and not by sight. One step at a time, one day at a time.

I have to let God fill in the gaps where I have and will continue to fall short.

I was faced today with a number that brought me to tears. $891.55 the amount of money I will need to pay each month for 4 months to pay for this semester after Financial Aid from the North Texas Conference is applied.

I trust that praying is more fruitful than worrying.

SMU has this link I am going to put here that allows people to make contributions directly towards a students bill anonymously. Click Here if your feeling compelled to help out.

"God being with us isn't just an existential saying, we can see that he is with us through the lives of those around us" - Tom (the president of PSA... I can't remember his last name)

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.

Getting to Know Me - Dream Job Day 9

Day 9 – Dream Job

I have taken a Blog Challenge to blog daily for 30 days mostly about myself so that you and others can get to know me a bit better. Tell a friend about www.jacobfields.org this month, or like and interact with me on my Facebook ministry page at Facebook.com/Jacobwfields

If you could have any job in the world what would it be?

This is going to be an easy one, a real short answer. I would be a youth minister in a church that reaches out to the poor and hungry in the community. I would try my best to teach the students about how amazing God is and impact their life in a positive way. I would be in the process of becoming an Elder in The United Methodist Church so that I could preside over the sacrament and order a church in a way that creates disciples. That’s a pretty big deal so I would want to make sure I did my best to prepare myself for it.

Oh wait, that is exactly what I am doing!

God Is So Good!

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.

If Metallica were actually the 12 disciples....

Then the song Nothing Else Matters would be interpreted a bit different.

I am going to walk you through the song as if this were true, hopefully it will be a bit entertaining for you.

So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters

The disciples had walked with Jesus and had gotten to know him quite well. They had a bit of despair in those days after Jesus was crucified and before the day of Pentecost. By the time they got around to writing this they would have embraced the closeness of Christ with them even if his physical body is gone or they have traveled far from Jerusalem. 

The work they do is purely out of their love of Jesus and relationship with God, it comes from the heart. They are facing significant persecution both from the Jews and the Romans at this point and they must Trust that they are followers of Jesus, followers of "The Way" (this is what early Christians called themselves) and that nothing mattered except doing the work that Jesus set them to be about.

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters

Before the coming of the Jesus their hearts were not the same. The Holy Spirit opened their heart in a new way. They are now experiencing Abundant life after 2nd birth having been born of the spirit, they are now living according to the Spirit and another reference to "The way". They really mean it! Jesus is all that matters.

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters

They have learned to trust in Jesus, they were a bit baffled at first in John chapter 14 when Jesus told them they would be doing even better works than he did because they will still be around doing the work. Everyday they see something new, new believers, new miracles, new abundance in life. They feel enlightened compared to the life they had before, because Jesus is all that matters.

Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know

Those Pharisees... there has always been something weird about them and the way they talk about God. I met Jesus and now I understand how God loves me isn't based on the things I do or the things I understand, its based out of who God is and that he created me and wants a relationship.

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.

Russia Update - A night on the town - Moscow

Tonight (Wednesday night for us Wednesday day for y'all) we went around Moscow and had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. Our waitress Olga spoke great English and gave great service, we will be eating more frugally for the duration of the trip but from now on our wonderful youth will be able to tell their friends "I had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe in Moscow." After dinner we walked the city center and were entertained by the various shops we walked by and the street performers. We are back at the hotel now and about to sleep for the night most of us are exhausted. Tomorrow will be more touring of Moscow followed by an overnight train to Novgorod. Our next update will probably be Friday in Novgorod unless we are able to find a hot spot. The weather here is absolutely prefect by the way.

ADDED:

This is a picture of Arbot Street it is the main tourist street in Moscow, only foot traffic and a lot of street performers. This is also the street that the Hard Rock Cafe was on. In case you were wondering, this picture was taken at like 9:45 PM

This is a picture of the view from my window at the Bega Hotel in Moscow, we were on the 11th floor. This building that you can see is one of 7 identical buildings throughout the city that are reffed to7 Sisters (if you Google it search "seven sisters Moscow")

In an effort to try and figure out the Russian Alphabet, I took this picture of a Russian blackberry with a full keyboard. Unfortunately I still haven't figured it out

Russia Update - Arriving In Moscow

So the flight was wonderful, we were well fed and taken care of. There was so much available in the in flight entertainment module for each seat that most of us watched at least two movies and a myriad of other entertainment options including music and games. I read up on the culture of the people and tried to study some Russian... I do not think it worked, it is still as if they are speaking a foreign language. Needles to say that there was so much in flight entertainment that not much sleep was had, except for by Bruce and Michael. Bradley, Alex and myself got the least amount of sleep. We collected our bags and got through customs no problem and met our translator Anistasia. We sent our luggage with a driver to the hotel and took a series of train and taxi to get there ourselves. Now, the thing is that there are 6 of us when you include the translator, and vehicles in Russia aren't like the SUVs we are used to in the states, most of the cars are what we would consider compact. So 6 of us plus a taxi driver piled in to a single taxi. Let me tell you, it was amazingly comfortable and we have pictures to prove it. I will try to get those posted later tonight. Tonight for us that is, It is already 7:09PM here and its only 10:09AM back home. We are freshening up right now in the Hotel Rooms, then we will be hitting the town for dinner and some tourism. We might even have dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe tonight.

All that being said, what really matters is that we are here and we are safe, and so thankful to have a translator with us. Pray that god would continue to take care of us and teach us something new each and every day.

This is a picture of the the Youth excitedly on their way to the airport in Houston.

 This is a picture just after getting off the plane and through customs. We have met our translator, Anistasia( the one in pink) talking to Bruce (the one in grey) and we are waiting on the driver who will take our luggage to the hotel.

 You can see how awake they are, this is the WE ARE IN RUSSIA AND I'M EXCITED picture

 This is in line for the train tickets where the Youth's level of fatigue was probably at its worst... it probably didn't help that they couldn't understand what anyone was saying Bruce and I was acting like we were going to sell them to the Russians.

 This last photo is after the adventure in taking 7 people in a very small Russian Taxi - That picture is on Alex's camera I will load it as soon as I get a chance. We are in the lobby at the Hotel Bega and there is a visible difference in their body language I think they are relieved to finally be at the hotel.

Peace That Passes Understanding

The peace that passes understanding, have you ever heard anyone use this phrase?

Maybe you have, maybe you have even experienced it. It is almost like a blissful state of euphoria where everything in the world is just okay even though they aren't. Of course, I realize that my attempt to illustrate this concept is hopeless because by definition it is beyond understanding. When I hear this phrase I am sometimes confused. I wish I could figure out how in a world with so much conflict, so much turmoil, and so much pain, that someone could be at "peace" with themselves or the world or God or whatever it is they are at peace with. It is mind-boggling to contemplate the things that cannot be understood, especially for me. Then it occurred to me, what must happen before this can be achieved. It is really quite a simple concept so I hope that I can figure out how to grasp it and maybe you can too.

To experience the peace that passes understanding you must first accept that there are some things in this world in which you will never be able to understand no matter how hard you try.

God help me accept the limits of my mind.

**added 5/23/17 **

A little more than 6 years after first publishing this post, I have learned a great deal. Unfortunately, our world has only become more chaotic, with seemingly more conflict and turmoil. My own life has seen some significant ups and downs. Yet, I have experienced this peace more and more over time. 

The thought actually originates in Scripture, it comes from Philippians 4:7 which says:

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus - NIV

As it turns out, attaining the peace that passes understanding has less to do with accepting our own limitations and more to do with trusting in God.

There are a number of things I could talk about here, and perhaps I will continue to add to this post on another day, but for me, the priority for growing in our trust of God is growing in our understanding and practice of Sabbath.

When people tell me they are struggling in their faith, feeling anxious, or overwhelmed, a question I often ask is: when was the last time you took an entire 24 hours of rest/not working (school or paid)?

The answers I usually get are some sort of dodging the question because the person can't answer it. They don't remember the last time they took a day off. This causes a LOT of problems for our physical, mental, and spiritual health. After all, taking a sabbath (day of rest) is not just a suggestion in the bible "It's a Divine Command!!" So how do we do it? how can we get better at trusting God? 

Well, I have a great book to recommend on the topic:


Order yourself a copy, read it, and let me know what you think. 

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.

Holy Week - Good Friday

This week is a very special week. It is the most important week on the entire Christian calendar and within this week we remember the events that changed our world forever. I always try to do something extra special this week of the year, and this year I have chosen to journey with you through a book by Adam Hamilton. 24 Hours that Changed the World is a great book with only 7 chapters. So Each Day - Monday to Easter Sunday - I will review a chapter from the book. I very much recommend that you click the link here and overnight yourself a copy so that you can join in the discussions of each chapter in the comments below.

Chapter 5 - The Torture and Humiliation of the King

This is a difficult subject for me: flogging, beating, taunting. Of all the people in the entire world in all of history, it would be the easiest for us to point the finger at those people in that instant and say that is a sin: hitting Jesus with a whip, tearing his flesh over and over again. I am reminded of the movie Passion of Christ the scene from the movie that disturbed me the most was the flogging, it just kept going. When you got to the point of thinking that is enough it just kept going. Jesus never asked them to stop, he remained silent. In the moments of my sin is Christ there? is he standing silently waiting for me to realize how much he loves me? Does Jesus require or even ask us to stop or is his priority that we understand the lengths that he would go to show how much he loves us even in that moment. You see when I sin and realize that what I am doing is a sin and I continue in selfishness anyways, I am the one holding the whip. When it gets to the point where my actions have done so much damage the truth is that more often than not even I keep going. Jesus asks those who have received healing to "go and sin no more" yet to those who are still entrenched in their sin, like Zacheus the tax collector and like all those who inflict pain on him in the last hours of his life he never calls them to repent. Zacheus brought Jesus home with him and was compelled so much by Christ’s love that he changed his life without being asked. The Soldiers responsible for the task of torturing were surely included in those whom Jesus prayed for on the Cross "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do" and surely they are included among the witnesses of the thunder and ground shaking and the dead being raised to life that it describes happened that afternoon. Surely their lives were changed. So what is it about God's love that without condemning us for what we are doing leads us to change?

For me, this reinforces that me changing for the better is only in response to God's love for me and not that I have to change before God will love me. This is true for all of us. Maybe you have understood a different way from people of the church, insisting that you must change your ways for God to accept you; that my friend is not the case. God loves you exactly the way you are, but thankfully he loves us so much that he will never leave us unchanged after we truly experience His love. So my question for you today is: In what ways have you experienced the Love of God? And how has that changed your life?

Get updates in your Inbox Email Address

Holy Week - Thursday

This week is a very special week. It is the most important week on the entire Christian calendar and within this week we remember the events that changed our world forever. I always try to do something extra special this week of the year, and this year I have chosen to journey with you through a book by Adam Hamilton. 24 Hours that Changed the World is a great book with only 7 chapters. So Each Day - Monday to Easter Sunday - I will review a chapter from the book. I very much recommend that you click the link here and overnight yourself a copy so that you can join in the discussions of each chapter in the comments below.

Chapter 4 - Jesus, Barabbas, and Pilate

Today's Chapter challenges me in many ways. It discusses the events of Pilate. At first, we have the accusations. There is something that happens even here that we as Christians should learn from. When hurtful and accusatory words were spoken about/ to Jesus, He did not become defensive. He did not himself become accusatory. He remained silent. This is so different from normal that a man, who had no historical problem with killing Jews, was hesitant. Something about Jesus stood out to Pilate so much that he "washed his hands" of Jesus Blood. So what is it about being calm and not defending yourself is so compelling that it would lead to this? It is just so unusual. The first thing I do, and many people I know, is to answer harsh words with harsh words. When someone speaks negatively to or about me without even thinking I react defensively often in a way that is just as petty as what is being said. In fact, this concept is so pervasive in human interactions that one of the best books on how to relate to people is almost exclusively about this subject, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. If we are to be like Christ this is a very significant lesson.

In this chapter Hamilton also clearly communicates the idea of Substitution. Substitution is the belief that Christ who was sinless took the place of the sinners on the cross that we may be saved from sin and death and brought back into relationship with God. This belief means that the death Jesus Died was intended for me, and for you. The way that this is highlighted almost makes me jealous of Barabbas on that day. He was the first to experience the realization that Christ took his place on the cross when Pilate released him to the crowd while shouting to Crucify Jesus. Can you imagine a beaten and bloody Christ, standing silent across from you about to be lead to and nailed on a cross to die and you who have been guilty of murder (all sin is equal in the eyes of God) are being set free? Can you imagine looking into his eyes knowing that you should be in his place?

Can you imagine the reassuring look he might give back saying "don't feel guilty I choose to take this that you might live to know a God who LOVES YOU."

If we can put ourselves in Barabbas' place in that instance how would our lives change?

Get updates in your Inbox Email Address

Holy Week - Wednesday

This week is a very special week. It is the most important week on the entire Christian calendar and within this week we remember the events that changed our world forever. I always try to do something extra special this week of the year, and this year I have chosen to journey with you through a book by  Adam Hamilton. 24 Hours that Changed the World is a great book with only 7 chapters. So Each Day - Monday to Easter Sunday - I will review a chapter from the book. I very much recommend that you click the link here and overnight yourself a copy so that you can join in the discussions of each chapter in the comments below.

Chapter 3 - Condemned by the Righteous

Today we are reminded of several things that are present in the world today that cause pain. When looking at the story of Jesus' so called trial at the Sanhedrin we are reminded of the damage we can cause from love of power, authority, and respect of peers or fear of loosing such things. Surely of the 71 members of the Sanhedrin or those simply observing the spectacle someone knew that what was happening was not right. Spitting, Taunting, Beating, and lying are not things looked favorably on by the Torah and would not be model behavior that the so called righteous would normally display. In the secrecy of those early morning hours without the accountability of the public, the moral examples in Jerusalem became bullies. And even though it is likely that not everyone participated in the belittling of Jesus, it is clear that not one spoke up for what was right.

How often do we fall victim to defaming another around us? When we speak with negativity about people we seek to justify ourselves by claiming as truth the most negative examples we can think of to describe a person. How does that make us any different or any better? When we do this to people we know are we not doing it also then to Christ whose image humankind was made in? When we do this are we not belittling God's Creation? Or what about when we simply fail to speak up? What about when we simply fail to do what

is right? I know you are thinking well if that is what is required then we might as well give up because we can't live to that expectation every time. That is exactly the point! You and I will continue to mess up every hour of every day we will fail to live in perfect community failing to lover our neighbor and failing to hear the cry of the needy. This is why Christ has died for us: so that we would never give up. He took our punishment; he took our death so that we might live better tomorrow than we did today never being ashamed of the times we have failed but instead using those instances as examples to drive ourselves and those around us to a better future.

It is no coincidence that Peter's Denial is also a part of this story. As Adam Hamilton points out the story of Peter's denial is present in all of the gospels so many people would have had to have heard the story for this to happen. Yet the only one who was there to pass on the story was Peter himself. This example challenges us to use the deepest and darkest embarrassments and failures of our life in a way not only to challenge others to move beyond our flaws but as a way of highlighting God's love and Mercy and how if he can forgive even that, then surely there is hope for us all.

Get updates in your Inbox Email Address

Holy Week - Monday

This week is a very special week. It is the most important week on the entire Christian calendar and within this week we remember the events that changed our world forever. I always try to do something extra special this week of the year, and this year I have chosen to journey with you through a book by Adam Hamilton. 24 Hours that Changed the World is a great book with only 7 chapters. So Each Day - Today to Easter Sunday - I will review a chapter from the book. 

Chapter 1 - The Last Supper

When reflecting on the last supper Adam Hamilton does a fantastic job of describing the historical setting, background, and timeline of the events that happened during those hours.

Any time we look at this meal there are questions that we should ask of ourselves and things that we should humbly accept. The first of these things is the controversy of the statement Christ makes "one of you will betray me."  We often want to think that surely it is not I that would betray Christ, just as many of those in the room with him had. The reality is that we can personally identify with the experience of each disciple that night. Some of us are overcome with greed and feel as if continuing to fight for Christ in this time and place is a losing battle so we might as well cash in while we can, and we find ourselves with the blood on our hands from 30 pieces of silver. Some of us are overcome with fear as we see the pain and difficulty associated with admitting a relationship with Jesus, and we find ourselves in the place of Peter denying that we know him. Some of us feel like we try and try and try so hard but we just cannot continue with the discipline and focus it takes to follow Christ and we find ourselves asleep in the Garden. We find ourselves confused and questioning the Power of Christ in our own lives and find ourselves saying nothing and wondering the same as those who pass by the cross mocking Jesus saying if you are the Messiah the just come down from the cross and we will believe. We seem to want just a little more and a little more proof. 

The reality is not just that we can identify with the one who betrayed or the one who denied Jesus, the reality is that everyone in that room left Christ alone. Everyone turned their back. Each of us does the same. May we not continue to hide in shame of what we have done but realize that even after Christ knew what was going to happen, He still shared a meal with his friends. He still washed their feet. He still gave his life to overcome death for them. Even though he knows the deepest darkest parts of your soul, He Still Loves You to Death. 

  

Get updates in your Inbox Email Address

Ev@ngel*$m has become a bad word

Evangelism, The E-Word. Aside from very few traditions, this word is run from rather than embraced. How can a word that simply means “good news” cause such a negative reaction?
Whose stomach doesn't turn when they see a sign like this one?
Explore with me what has happened with this word, and how maybe we can see this concept in a different light.

Throughout the history of the Church, Christians have often approached their views on God as an, I’m right and your wrong, this is what you should believe, the way of impacting others and increasing the number of those who participate in their religion. There are words used to define such views as a right view (Orthodoxy) and a wrong view (Heresy). This language and this mindset have led to creating a very insider-outsider worldview that leads to hostility and not love. Not only has it done this with our views of Christians and Non-Christians, this hostility has translated itself into Catholic Vs. Protestant, Christain Vs. Jew, Methodist Vs. Baptist, Evangelical Vs. Social Justice, Conservative Vs. Liberal. Yet we wonder why and continue to condemn the actions of others when hostel language infiltrates media and politics?

There are many who are a part of any one of those groups that would disagree with what I am saying and many in those same groups that see a contradiction.

I am not here to say that one is right and one is wrong, I am not here to say I am right or that I know more than you about it. I am simply writing about what I have seen and heard in my experiences with various peoples and you are welcome to not only disagree but also to tell me about it and share your opinion.

I have grown up in the Methodist tradition, and with that, I have experienced people from other traditions telling me that my relationship with God is not valid because I do not participate in their tradition. I have been guilty of assuming the same of others at one point or another.

You see when others have told me that I am wrong and that I should believe as they believe, it only serves to detract from both our faiths and not to build up either one. I take it as an attack on what I believe and in turn attack another. We are all guilty of this no matter if you are post-modern or fundamental.

The Jesus I know was not like this. The Jesus I know lived in the midst of contradiction and embraced it instead of distancing himself and demonizing the oppressors (specifically speaking of the Romans). The Jesus I know taught a different way, a way that I still have trouble comprehending. The Jesus I know said I should love those who hate me and to hate no one. The Jesus I know was concerned with truths and un-truths not “I’m right”s and “your wrong”s. The Jesus I know was not sent to condemn but to redeem. The Jesus I know followed the Law and the Spirit. The Jesus I know lived deeply and spoke simply(parables).

So When Gandhi says “I like your Christ, but not your Christians” I can’t simply agree. I have to realize that I contribute to that.

In a world where Christian Media has become so mainstream that people identify Christians more with what we hate than what we love, then Evangelism has become a bad word.
In a world where we get more upset with a teenage girl having an abortion than we do about all those children that are born without a positive influence and support system, then Evangelism has become a bad word.
In a world where we blame our neighbors for their problems as an excuse not to help instead of meeting their needs and guiding them through troubled times, then Evangelism has become a bad word.
We see injustices, and out of fear of offending, or not being heard, or contributing to the “I’m Right! You’re Wrong!” mentality. Out of Fear we too often remain Silent! Because Evangelism Has Become A Bad Word.

You see the God I know is Big enough.

You see the God I know loves You and there is nothing you can do to change that!

The God I know is a good God

The God I know Plans to prosper and not to harm

The God I know will never leave us

You see the God I know created ALL Things

You see the God I know knows ALL Things

The God I know is Big Enough

So when I share with you these things I share with you, my faith. I may not have it all figured out but I have seen things and I have experienced things. I have witnessed Love and I have witnessed hate. All around me I hear people talking about things as if they were true and although I cannot say you are wrong, I can say that I know something else to be true.

I know that people look for fulfillment and/or escape by drowning their sorrows in alcohol. I have seen how that simply leads to further destruction and even more pain.

I know that people seek sex and the approval of others to validate their lives and to give them a feeling of importance. I have seen how that leads to confusion about who they are and only causes them to feel even more insignificant.

I know of many other situations like these where people are looking for truth in places I have never seen it found. I have seen myself too often stay silent about the value and the truth that God has been for me.
Isn’t that really all we can do anyways?

All I can offer you is what I have seen and what I have experienced. I cannot Convert you, nor should that be my goal.

What I can do is I can share my faith

I can tell you about my life and what God has been and done for me

I can only provide you information

It is for others to decide what to do with the information.

You see Evangelism has become a bad word….
…… and when I keep my mouth shut, I only contribute to the problem.

Share your faith with anyone you can in every way you can as often as you can. Live your life as an example for others, but don’t forget the challenge that Saint Francis gave us “Preach the Gospel at all times when necessary use words.”

If we only remember the first part and fail to use words when the situation calls for it, when our life experience can benefit our neighbor, then we continue to make Evangelism a bad word.

What are you doing to spread the good news?

What are you doing to share your faith?

What are you doing to show others about the God you know?

As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered to you through Jesus Christ and that you will always remember Jeremiah 29:11.  – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope for the Future.