Four Things Necessary About Being a Witness
In church this morning we had a friend of mine come and speak on mission. He has been a youth minister and worked in mission in Mexico. He is one of the new breed of mission workers who believes first and foremost in relational evangelism. He used 1 Thessalonians 1 & 2 to talk about the ways of being a witness- which all Christians are called to be.

He talked about:

~~ Work in a Team. Don't ever go it alone. Paul always had others with him and picked up more people on the way.

~~ Live with the people. In the old mission days the missionaries lived in the Big House or the special place, locked and gated, a refuge from the heathen world they were trying to convert. Today we all need to live with the people to learn their language and culture and needs, not what we impose on them.

~~ Share both the Gospel and your life. In other words, don't be aloof, but be a servant with the people.

~~ Set an example- in other words- disciple others. We all do it. We are always setting an example, so what is it you are going to share? Do you live like you believe- truly believe what you are saying is true?

In all of this never forget that God is present at all times in words, the Word, and Power.

Great stuff. He did say that this seems to be more difficult in the urban, American environment than it was in the small mountain cities of Mexico, but he is working on it. It sounded like the ways of the emerging church as we all seek to find ways to connect with all those who are outside instead of just playing membership shuffle.

Members - or Disciples?
A thought came to me during the sermon this morning as Owen was talking about making disciples and the place of disciples is to be taught how to be a follower of Jesus in the world. I realized that the difference between recruiting members and recruiting disciples is this:
   ~~ When you recruit members you are trying to bring people in.
   ~~ When you recruit disciples you are trying to send people out.
   ~~ Members are for us and our survival.
   ~~ Disciples are for others and for God's Kingdom.

Finally, A Photoblog
Set up- at last- my photoblog. For my first pix I posted some of the wimpy snowstorm pictures from this afternoon. More stuff coming.

OK, Maybe It Wasn't That Wimpy
Officially at the weather service office only 4 miles from where I live, there was 6" of snow- which is more than in any storm last winter. In portions of the state there was a major storm of up to 12". The forecast was right- but for a different part of the state than where I live. And with that, the end of the discussion on this storm.