Clothing and Evangelism?

Golf Anyone?

I was walking my dog Seamus the other day and a man stopped me to ask for directions to a downtown golf driving range.  I noticed that there were a number of people that he passed by that he could have stopped to ask before he got to me but he didn't.  After thinking about it for a bit I figured out why he chose me in particular.  I think that he assumed I was a golfer...I was wearing plaid shorts and a 'poor boy' hat at the time.  

What I was wearing created an opportunity for conversation with a complete stranger.  

This brief interaction reminded me of something the Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 3:12-14.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Our clothing communicates something about who we are in a physical and spiritual sense.  When we clothe ourselves with these virtues mentioned by the Apostle Paul we are saying that we are God's chosen people.  

No doubt that by asking the Holy Spirit to empower us to dress this way each day conversation opportunities with others are are bound to happen.  People whom God is calling to Himself will recognize you as someone they can approach to ask for directions.

Can you relate?  Have this ever happened to you?   

Pastor Gary

A path to the unexpected grace of God

Exodus 33:13

Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people."  (NKJV)

In Exodus 33, Moses was at Mount Sinai once again but with a renewed sense of the need for the presence and knowledge of God. But what I find interesting is the order of his request: (1) grace from God, (2) to know God’s way, (3) to know God himself, (4) to receive even more grace.  Maybe there’s a pattern to follow in this verse! Recognizing that God has been gracious, leads us to know and obey his ways, which in turn results in personal knowledge of HIM, which results in even more of God’s beneficence (“grace”). It reminds me that every time I want to experience more of God’s goodness, maybe I should be working on my obedience and knowledge of him first. Then I can expect the unexpected grace of God!  

What do you think?

Stop Watching...Start Doing

Do you ever feel like a video camera operator? Let me rephrase that: do you ever feel like you're doing the job of a camera operator, just without the camera and film?

With the help of a few minutes here and there spent watching "reality" TV shows, I've realized that I am often doing the same thing as the video camera operators.  Camera guys and girls who seek to creatively film the complete chaos and dysfunction of the families and people do just that.  They film.  They don’t help the people, they don’t offer advice or guidance to the families, they don’t do anything other than record and report back to the editors, producers, etc.

I regularly do the same thing.  The only difference is that I don’t use film.  I walk down the streets of Toronto and watch the interaction between people asking for change and those who ignorantly walk by.  I see mothers preparing to carry their babies and strollers up and down the stairs at the subway.  I hear about questionable choices my friends are making.  The list doesn’t end there, by my example does. 

My point is that I watch these things happen and like the camera operators, and I don’t do anything about it.  I simply let it happen and then later tell others about what I saw.  Changes need to be made!  We need to actively engage in these everyday occurrences and not just let them pass us by.

Usually I would ask: So what are you going to do about it this week?  This time I’m not.  I’m simply urging you to pay attention to these things and to do something about them.  You know that there are needs to be met.  Meet them.

Love your neighbours.  Read Luke 10: 25-38 for some how-to instructions.

Much Love,

Dave