Archive for March, 2009
August 2010
BEING AN INTENTIONAL LIFE SAVER
Dear Friends,
As I attended the Convention of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod I did so with a certain amount of apprehension. On the one hand I couldn’t imagine sitting still for eight days of 10-hour business meetings. I also dreaded exposure to the politics that finds itself into the Church. But as I approached this meeting, I was determined to enjoy conversations with people that I had never met before. At the beginning of the convention we were challenged to find someone who lived locally in the Houston area and to witness to them about Jesus. No such conversation had taken place all week long and as I walked away from the convention center in Houston heat and humidity on my mile long walk back to the hotel, the need to witness to someone was on my heart. I noticed a man walking in front of me who was one of the audio technicians for the convention. He lit up a long overdue cigarette and hurried away from the convention center and disappeared into the Houston evening. But for some reason, I couldn’t get him off my mind.
On Saturday morning, the last day of the convention, I was rather sleepy and so I decided to go the Starbucks store in the convention center. Guess who was standing in line right in front of me? Sure enough it was the same technician. I started some small talk, discussing the challenge of providing audio for the convention. We discussed digital signal processors and wireless microphones. I could have this conversation because of experience from our own sound system installation at St. John. Then I thanked him for his service. He responded with a “You’re welcome” and then said, “I have enjoyed it. I see your Church struggling through a lot of issues and it reminds me of how much I am confused about a lot of things.” That was all I needed and we launched into a discussion about Jesus and how through His death and resurrection He provides more than solutions to problems. He provides life. We prayed together and he walked away thanking me for talking with him.
I was reminded of the importance of being intentional about witnessing as a disciple of Jesus. Being focused and in tune, praying for my opportunity, I am convinced that the Holy Spirit was the one who laid that man on my heart on Friday morning and maybe even gave the two of us a caffeine craving just so we could talk. At the end of a long week, I was glad I had visited Houston. I was thankful that the Lord gave me an opportunity to share the life changing message of the Gospel with that man. I was reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 1—“I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes.” I am convinced that every single believer can be having that same experience. I’m on my way back to Indianapolis right now, sitting in an airport, committed to encouraging all of you to anticipate God working in your lives.
Blessings in Jesus,
Pastor Phil