Scratch that. I live in a bubble wrapped in bubble wrap placed in a padded room full of other people who also live in bubbles.
Let me explain. I am a Christian. I am surrounded by Christians. I tried to think of even one person in my extended family (or even my husband's extended family) who is not a believer and I couldn't think of anyone. I have wonderful Christian friends who encourage and challenge me on a regular basis. I have a great church. I am blessed beyond measure to have these people in my life. Over the years, I have had plenty of godly people mentor and encourage me in my faith. I guess in some ways, I have taken it on as my "ministry" to do the same with others in my life. I get excited at the opportunity to encourage others believers in their spiritual walk. It floors me when people leave comments on my blog posts telling me that I am "an inspiration" to them. You all are too sweet - but I can't take credit. The LORD is our inspiration, he just sometimes uses each of us at different times to inspire and encourage one another. That is part of being the "body of Christ" -- to build each other up and encourage each other in our faith. (1 Thess 5:11) I like my bubble. I like all you kind Christian believers bouncing around my bubble. Loving Christian bubbles are fun. BUT, here is where my bubble bursts:
God never commanded me to live in a bubble.
In fact, quite the opposite is true. He commanded me to "go." He commanded me to tell those who are lost and dying about Him. I think I took this command to heart in high school when I took Evangelism Explosion and in college when I went overseas for mission trips. But since having kids and becoming a full time stay-at-home mom, my "going" and "telling" has continually shrunk to the point of nil. Yeah, I still pray for those people who go. And Joey and I financially support lots of people who go. But as far as me actually seeking out people who need to hear the gospel and then telling them - it just hasn't happened in a LONG time.
The reason all of this is fresh on my mind is because we had this speaker, Bill Fay, speak to our church this past Sunday. He has a powerful testimony of being a sinner saved by grace. He said some powerful things. He challenged us. He told us evangelism is not a "spiritual gift," it is a command to all believers. Therefore, we can't say "that's not my gift" as an excuse not to tell others about Christ. He also took a lot of pressure off of us by telling us "success" when sharing Christ is not on our shoulders. It is the Lord who brings conviction and true conversion in a person's life. We are not able to claim success or failure when someone accepts or rejects the message of Christ. Mr Fay gave us examples of how to start spiritual conversations with people (because getting started is usually the hardest part.) Then he gave us homework.
Yeah. Homework. I went to church Sunday and came home with homework. The schoolteacher in me is jumping up and down cheering and strategizing on how to get an "A." Crazy, I know. Anyway, for a few days now, I have been strategizing on how to accomplish this homework. I think I have come up with a plan. I am going to use you, my blog readers to help me with this little homework assignment.
Let me explain. According to good old Google analytics, there are on average 35 or so people reading my blog each day. I know some of you because you tell me you are reading. Others, I don't have a clue who you are. The fact that this blog is open to the entire world wide web means that anyone could be reading, even someone who does not know about Christ. Maybe someone who wants to know about Christ. Maybe someone who is just waiting for someone to tell them about Christ. Maybe someone who has no interest whatsoever in Christ, but tolerates my blog and all my Christian ramblings for one reason or another. Who knows. But the homework assignment I have been given is designed to scope out and find those people who would like to know more.
So, here is what I am going to do. I going to present five questions to my readers. I want all of you (even those of you who think you know all the "right" answers), to leave a comment (by clicking the comment link at the bottom of this post) and give me your answers to these five questions. (If you need help figuring out comments, click here.)
This is the good part. I am offering a prize to one lucky commenter. I think I will have the kids pick a number between one and whatever number of comments we have by Friday night and that will be the winning commenter. (Side note: Jonah is learning to count by 5's this week, so it might behoove some of you to try to be commenter number 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or so on.) Just kidding, the winning comment number will be chosen at random and your answers do not have any influence over whether or not you win. (Still give thoughtful answers though - I will disqualify any commenter who does not answer all five questions.) I am pretty sure most my readers are believers, but there may be some readers out there who are unsure about their spiritual beliefs and if this little 5 question survey gives me the chance to plant a spiritual seed or (praise God) offer any kind of follow-up, I am positive the money sacrificed on the prize will be well worth it.
So...you want to know what the prize includes??
A Charleston's Restaurant gift card worth $25.
A Starbucks gift card worth $10.
A Braums gift card worth $5.
And just for fun, I will wrap them in BUBBLE wrap when I mail them to you.
Do you all remember that Senior Banquet I did the decorating for back in July? Well, I was given the Charleston's gift card as part of a thank you. (I also got a Gap gift card but I spent that on a much needed new pair of jeans, so I can't offer that one for the prize.) I LOVE Charleston's. It is my favorite restaurant (second only to the Melting Pot). This is pretty huge for me to be willing to part with that gift card, but again, I believe the results of this 5 question survey has the potential to make parting with it worth it. However, I just found out that Charleston's only has restaurants in Arizona, Indiana, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma. I feel sorry for the rest of the states. But a gift card to Charleston's would be worthless to someone who does not live in one of those states, so I would be willing to purchase a gift card to another restaurant in your area if you live outside of driving distance to a Charlestons. (Hey, that would mean I could keep the Charleston's card - woo hoo!)
Now go leave a comment.
Oh yes, I almost forgot. The questions:
1. Do you have any kind of spiritual belief? (yes or no is fine)
2. To you, who is Jesus?
3. Do you think there is a heaven or hell?
4. If you fell over and died, where would you go? If heaven, why would God let you in?
5. If what you were believing was not true, would you want to know?
Comments will close Friday at 5 pm. The winner will be announced Saturday. Check back to see if you win and claim the prize!
Feel free to email me also - kelly@teachandtickle.com
8 comments:
1. YES
2. Son of God, 1/3 of the Trinity, (not a white guy with rock&roll hair)
3. I think there are both.
4. I would to to heaven. I would go because Jesus died on a cross to forgive me of my sins. And BTW, that is the only reason I would get into heaven!
5. I would want to know.
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And we ain't got no Charleston's goodness in West Texas, so just pass any gifts along to those more deserving commenters...
1. yes
2. MY Savior (I was at the meeting, too!)
3. There is a Heaven and a Hell.
4. Heaven, not because of anything I've done. All of the things that I have done would keep me out and send me to Hell. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin. Without His sacrifice, I would stand guilty before a righteous and holy God and pay my own "fines."
5. Yes, but I know that it is!
I went out early this morning and asked these questions to a waitress at a Waffle House and I will give you her answers.
Her name was Shanda
1. Yes
2. Not sure
3. Yes, both
4. I think I would go to heaven
5. No and then she proceeded to tell me that she felt like the reason she did not want to know is because whatever happened to her was her destiny.
I said thank you, but she kept asking more questions and ended up saying she would like to know more.
Thanks for being creative in your challenge to us to share Jesus without Fear and trust God with the results.
Travis
1. Yes I do
2. He is my Savior
3. Yes both
4. Heaven (My name is written in the book of life.)
5. Yes
1. YES
2. MY Savior, my Lord and many other things, to many to list here.
3. Yes, both
4. Heaven, because I believe in my heart and I have confessed with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. and I have chosen to live a life that follows HIM.
5. NO. I would rather serve God my whole life and find out later that HE didn't exist than to NOT believe and later find out the hard way that he did. IF I didn't believe..... maybe I would want to know.
I think your Dad should get the gift card for popping the bubble. :-)
1. Yes
2. Jesus has so many names and meanings to me I don't know where to start, but I'll try to shorten it... conceived of divine conception (the Son of the Living God), lived a completely sinless life, died on a cruel cross for the sins of the world, conquered death and the grave, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God interceding on my behalf, my Savior, my Lord, my Friend.
3. I believe there is heaven AND hell
4. I would go to heaven - God would let me in because the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, has washed away my sins
5. Yes, but I know it is true because I believe God's Word
Oh, you and Whitney are so much fun!
1. Yes.
2. My Lord and Saviour, who loved me so much that He took the punishment I deserve.
3. Both.
4. Heaven. Because I am a sinner saved by grace and grace alone. He would let me in because His Son paid my fine.
5.Yes, but I know that He is the way, the life, and the truth.
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