WholeHeartedLife

Never Met Him

Following is an email from one of my friends - we call him "Dog" (not the Bounty Hunter, but more intimidating). Dog has to travel around America to work - and as much as we all hate that he spends so much time apart from his family, we've all acknowledged that where he works is his "mission field" and he is definitely being used there. Anyway, here it is:

hey mike. I just wanted to update you on what God is doing in california. I was flying home labor day weekend when on one my flights I was setting next to a lady going to North Carolina. I asked her where she had been; She replied she had been to the Penthouse convention in Las Vegas (so you know what she looked like). She asked me if wanted to drink a beer with her - I told her that I had quit drinking over ten years ago. After that she asked me how I quit? "Boy!" God said, "it is your time to stand up for me". Needless to say, she met Jesus on 8/25/08 and I praise God for it!! Please pray for "Levena",  that she would be a world changer. You know people like her can be mighty for God! And hey, pray for me that I might be bold in my witness. Love you bro.

First, that email encouraged me so much! To see one of my "boys" being obedient, being used in a mighty way... it just puts a smile on my face. I'll never forget the time that he and I went to talk to one of his friends about Jesus and little did I know, going with him to talk to his friend about Jesus meant that he WANTED ME TO TELL HIS FRIEND ABOUT JESUS! I had never done that before - I learned really quick after that!

But the second thing, and the main point of this post, is this: I read his email and was reminded that the reason that most people don't love Jesus is that they've never been properly introduced to Him. Most people in America knows about Jesus (like you know about Michael Jordan or George Bush) but they have never had anyone introduce them to him in a tangible way (like Dog did). 

I closed that email even more encouraged and secure in what we do at hyde park - We provide the kind of place that you could bring "your Lavena" that she might be introduced to Jesus (our worship experience). We provide opportunities for "your Lavena" to get to know people (FAITHTrac 101 and Bible Fellowship Groups / GroupLink). We also periodically provide opportunities for you to learn how to better share your story and JESUS' story with people you meet - like Lavena (FAITHTrac 401 - BFG's - Wednesday Nite Growth Groups). And we do all of this in the most inviting and excellent environment possible - an environment designed to be welcoming to all who attend.

I love Jesus. I love hyde park. I look forward to meeting "your Lavena" next weekend!

Who?

As I'm preparing for this weekend's message I am overwhelmed by thoughts of how I came to JESUS. As I think through it, what I'm even more amazed by is the "Who" - the who(s), or people, who God used to bring me to myself.

I'm sure you'll hear some of the process, but I was thinking about you and wanted to ask:

Who was the person (or people) that JESUS used to draw Him to you? I'm not talking about "the moment" necessarily, that you received Christ, but the foundation or the many events that drew you to JESUS.

Discuss.