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Everywhere that I have had a bank account, the understanding is basically the same.

First you must make a deposit.  There is a period of waiting until the initial check clears.  Then if you choose, a withdrawal can be made.

I have never heard of a bank that allows a withdrawal before a deposit has been made. (If you know of such a bank, you really owe it to the rest of the planet to let us in on this amazing institution…  This deal must be advertised a bit.  How they would stay in business is not important to us - it’s just important that they allow people to withdraw from a nonexistent fund!)

This routine of “Deposit First - Withdraw Later” is violated continually, by regular church people - and without realizing what they are doing - church leaders-teachers-pastors are encouraging this pattern.  How so?

We model and strongly encourage people to approach virtual strangers with a call to a dramatic life change.  This is akin to not just a spiritual drive-by.  Think drive-by with a rapid fire bazooka and you are close to the reality here.

Am I suggesting one ought never to call a complete stranger to conversion?  Not in the least.  What I am saying is that a dramatic encounter such as this is the exception to the norm.  The norm is that we ‘bring’ the gospel.  We don’t ‘send’ the gospel.  To bring anything has everything to do with personal connections, relationship, a touch, and the word we love to use around Christmas - ‘Incarnation.’

It’s funny how we love to talk about ‘Incarnation’ around Christmas, but shun that word / concept after December 26th.  We bring the message of Jesus every time we connect with people.  If you continue to ‘send’ the message - well, you will continue to see lots of rejections. 

When those rejections come, do all of us a favor - for Pete’s sake, don’t sit back and glibly mutter something about the hard-heartedness of this generation.  You may be partly right.  Then again, you may be referring to your own hard-heartedness.

Thoughts along the outward journey from Janie Sjogren

Here’s a switcharoo as an entry for today.

My greatest asset on the planet is the lovely and talented Janie Sjogren - we just celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary. I wake up each morning now with two spontaneous thoughts - "Jesus, thank you I have one more day… thank you for the indescribable gift of Janie…" 

As you read here you will see why I use some of these adjectives.  My life has been immensely shaped by her heart.  She is the most remarkable person I have met.  (No kidding, many have told me the same thing!)  Since she doesn’t have a blog (yet) here is some of her heart…

Have you noticed how often the ‘right now’ thing God is up to happens on the way to what we thought was the plan?  If we are open to noticing what he is about, a steady stream of adventures cross our paths. 

New Friend - James C., 75 Years Young

“So you can read better now?”

This was a rhetorical question. I was just making conversation during the long silence.  His eyes lit up - his demeanor said the rest. 

It isn’t ‘cool’ for men to tear up, but he got a little misty - kind of surprising even though we had just met a couple of minutes before. 

This happened in the Ybor City section of Tampa - an older, gentrified area with nice restaurants.  Several dozen friends from CoastlandTampa were together to give away a few thousand bottles of water at a half marathon. What better excuse to connect with people, both runners and the crowd, than walking out a practical expression of Jesus’ love through bottles of water!  Sometimes Jesus ‘cup of water’ - Matt. 25 - is literally what is needed at the moment.

This elderly black man was reading his newspaper as we walked by.  What was unusual about him - he held the paper so close that his nose nearly touched the print! 

“You look like me when I don’t wear my glasses!”

He asked me to repeat myself so I did.  With that we had a conversation going.  I happened to have an extra pair of unisex reading glasses on me.  As he slipped them on, I couldn’t help thinking that they looked pretty good on my new friend. 

Who Gained The Most? Easy Answer

Not too long ago I was intimidated at the notion of approaching a stranger with what was probably an inspired ‘notice.’  Today I couldn’t walk past James without addressing his obvious need. Honestly, the thought that came to me was, “How badly can this go? At worst, I will never see him again!  At best, this could be the beginning of the dominoes toppling in his life until he becomes a Jesus follower… if he isn’t already in love with Jesus.”  Either way there is nothing to lose.

It wasn’t long ago that this encounter would have gone differently. 

A. I would have not noticed him in the least, OR

B. I would have had no idea how to connect with him. 

I now realize God does his noticing through me.  I walk past lots of people with needs - the noticing is not occurring with all who have needs - it is just with those being pointed out by God. It’s very simple really.

This I know - the invitation from on high is being picked up on by me clearly now.  I remember now how I started out noticing when I first began following Jesus, but somehow I lost my ‘glasses’ along the way.  I convinced myself that it is complex and difficult to read God’s eye chart.  Not true at all! 

This noticing thing is contagious and ironic.  The one who picks up on what Jesus is up to is always touched / blessed more than the receiver of ‘glasses’ of any sort being handed out.  Yes, they begin to see, but more importantly, the glasses giver remember how it is to see and how to notice our way into the lives of those God so loves…

Those around me are gaining courage as they see how uncomplex this all is.  Those previously fearful of noticing - noticing myths bite the dust. 

This is downright viral!

Christmas, age 13.
“Not again! All you want for Christmas is more fishing stuff… you already have lots of fishing stuff. Why don’t you get a baseball glove like normal kids your age…”

“Can’t help it Mom - all I think about is fish. When you are serious about the fishing world - you can’t have enough equipment to help you become more effective Mom…”

My dad would have understood that truism, but he had died the summer before. Mom got this much - there was something deep inside of me that was nourished as I helped lots of fish encounter their destiny - to come home with me - attached to my stringer!

Jesus came to Earth to gather a planet full of fish. He knew fish. He loved fish. His passion was fish. Hang with fish and you will pick up their odor. When was the last time you heard someone compliment another with a ‘You smell of fish’ remark…

He was not a technique person. His only plan was

• find fish
• hang with fish
• love fish
• accept fish
• heal fish… (you get the idea…)

We do Jesus’ stuff and the atmosphere of the kingdom will change everything.

He endorsed netting.

While we do Christmas over the next few days, I encourage you - sponge up the love around you. Healing is near. Take it in! Let the love around you sink in deeply. Even more, let the nearness of God’s love and those nearby fill you with all that is broken. Let the contagion of Jesus overflow.

It’s way more fun than being ticked off at unchanging relatives!

I lift my eggnog cup (non-fat, low sugar) to you! See you soon.

A friend of mine has written several books in the so-called “Dummies” series.  He was fortunate enough to get involved early on in this and has done very well financially for just this:  Helping those unfamiliar with his expertise learn how to become skilled very quickly.  That is the idea behind the Dummies series usually – taking a “Dummie” and making them smart.
 
When I use the word “Dummie” in this article, I mean something quite different.
 
It’s Not About Hooks
I’ve seen plenty of “hook” imagery in Christian “stores” over the years.  God bless the artists who put those together, but each of them were taught very poorly.  When Jesus used the metaphor of fishing the idea of a hook was not in his mind whatsoever.  Hooks didn’t come into existence until centuries later!  As well, a hook is a deceptive trick one pulls on an unsuspecting fish.  Bait and switch.  Sure, many use the bait and switch and call that “outreach.”  It is difficult to imagine Jesus inviting people to a free lunch then locking the doors while a thirty minute talk is forced upon the group as a hard sell message is forced upon the group.
 
“Use The Nets Norman!”
Every fishing story in the gospels is connected with Jesus instructing fisher people to toss out their nets.  In short, when there is a crowd of fish, the net draws them in.  It’s that simple.  Draw them in.
 
It’s Never About One Kind Of Fish
Many pastors have been fed a line of malarkey that churches grow best when a strategy is employed by leadership of seeking “homogenous social units.”  That is, when we go after people like us, a church will grow.  This point is not only utterly 180 degrees the opposite of every biblical story of God’s visitation upon a people group, it is just plain boring! When God shows up in power amazing diversity naturally occurs (c.f. Acts 2, Acts 4 – moving from one people group to thirteen people groups in a matter of minutes).
Remember this:  When you serve the city, when you love the city in practical ways, the city shows up at your door – as they are, tattoos, piercings, Armani suits, Porche 911s, rusted 20 year old station wagons – all sitting next to one another.
THOUGHT:  If you are stuck in sameness, start scattering seeds of generosity across the city.  Be sure you are not too strategic in your sowing or you will kill the work of the Spirit.  Spiritual strategies are absolutely fine and good, but more often than not what we call a strategy in today’s church is a synonym for “We are in absolute control – no one makes a move without our permission!”  You want to see God move in your midst?  As odd as it sounds, be fairly non-strategic to begin with in order to fall in love with the power of God’s Spirit to move as only he can.  You see amazing results.  I’m dead serious.  (Read and re-read Matt. 13)
 
It’s Not About Carp
No offense intended to those who value carp as a game fish, but let’s face it.  Carp may easily be considered the most boring,  predictable fish on the planet.
Of the tiny percentage of those who make an effort to “fish” (do evangelism), there is typically but one kind of “fish” Church leaders seek after – carp!  If you aren’t familiar with these bottom feeders, they are passive, watchers not doers, lethargic and they have no teeth.  Why do church leaders value the acquisition of carp as new believers versus a more daring catch such as big mouth bass sorts of believers, for example?  Bass have a mind of their own.  They are independent fish.  They are fighters with lots of life to them, but they require far more energy than the totally predictable carp. 
 
Turn From Easy To Jesus’ Way
When Jesus shows up in your midst in a profound way there is no need to lean on cuteness, no need to look for the magic bullet strategy the new book by the brilliant author of the moment is going to publish.
Yes, you will have a lot of creativity going on as God is powerfully present in your midst.  That is his nature – he moves and his creativity follows.  Thoughts will flow like a new vocabulary of a language you are speaking for the first time.
The fish will gather.
Cast the net.
The adventure begins…

Question: Why did Paul tell Timothy “Do the work of an evangelist?” Keep in mind the Timothy letters are directed at leaders – specifically to pastors. I have heard many leaders try to make that line into a call to all the church to take to heart that they were to do the work of an evangelist. It is indeed true we are to be gatherers and inviters, however, to use that line of scripture in that way is a misuse of the context. He was writing to a pastor and pastors who would follow in general – not to general church people. If pastors are living out their calling in a balanced way there will be plenty of gathering going on.

Back to that question. Why the exhortation? My theory is each time Paul or any biblical writer made a point of saying “Do this” it was stated because the “this” wasn’t being done! That is, Timothy had not in any consistent way been doing the work of an evangelist. Timothy was likely one of those pastors who delighted in seeing people make steady advances in their spiritual life, he was a hand holder, and he probably spent dozens of hours working on his home run message for the weekend. Does this ring a bell?

We don’t know a heck of a lot about Pastor Timothy, but it appears from the letters to him that he was not too different from most pastors I know and work with. He was likely one who enjoyed seeing people progress spiritually on an individual level. He most certainly felt like he was over his head in response to what was going on in his midst in Ephesus (“don’t let anyone look down upon your youthfulness…”) I suspect he had had a “Sugar Daddy” show up who seemingly wanted to take him under his wing but had other motives in mind – to make him the man in charge of the show from behind the scenes. Most of us have either made a Faustian Deal or have come close to it out of desperation when finances were low.

But more than anything, Timothy was one who had seen God’s Spirit show up in their midst and do some amazing things – probably when Paul was visiting. Timothy had relied upon Paul’s anointing to draw in the not-yet believers.

Timothy was yet to learn a vital lesson most of us as well are yet to learn: How to create an environment that sees people continually come to Christ.

Paul gave two pieces of counsel to get things on track and growing in Ephesus.

1. He reminded him of “the gift” that had been called out upon Timothy’s life by the leadership team earlier in Timothy’s life and ministry. Just a thought: Ministry gifts are called out or “released” upon leaders – specifically leaders who understand how gifting works. The word “gift” here is ‘charismata’ – a beautiful word picture pointing to a ‘droplet of grace.’ When a gift of this nature is released in a leader’s life, as much as anything, confidence is imparted – a new and strong view of the future – a positive anticipation about something good in the future we are about to encounter.

My first significant mentor was a “Timothy” turned gatherer after he had been around a “Paul” who had showed up in his life. He spoke frequently of the need to recognize, pray for, walk in the “gift of gathering” if we are going to be effective. I wonder if Timothy received the gift of “gathering.” Archeologists estimate Timothy’s church grew in his lifetime to a weekly attendance of over 40,000. To quote another mentor in my life, “That’s a whole lot of God’s love son!”

2. He pointed out that he was to “do the work of an evangelist.” Obviously there is an office in the church of “Evangelist” as Paul himself mentioned in Ephesians chapter 4. In effect, Paul was saying, “mimic what an evangelist does, only on a smaller scale, on a regular basis, within your role as a pastor…”

I can hear Timothy’s mind now (and yours as well, “But I’m not that kind of a leader / pastor… I’m introverted… I’m quiet… That isn’t my nature…”

This is part one of a two-part article.

Between now and next week think about this: What does an evangelist really do? Knock on doors? Lead lots of people to Jesus one on one? OR something else even more strategic?

A couple of years ago I spent about an hour with Billy Graham in close quarters – him, his photographer, his right hand man and me. I had heard this before but thought it was a mere rumor. It is true though – Billy is a rather shy, quiet guy. He will readily tell you that. On stage it’s a different story, but his personality is nothing like an ‘archetypical used car salesman.’

Hint: Living out this new kind of effectiveness might be far easier than you think!

(Look for an E-Book by Steve Sjogren at PrettyGoodBooks.com in an expanded for that this brief article touches on. This e-book will give you many inspiring and practical ideas that will help launch you into effectiveness in your evangelism ministry.)