The Jesus Challenge has been a lot of fun this year.  It has particularly been fun as we have emphasized doing small things for people. 

            Going the second mile is a concept that makes an enormous difference in other people’s lives and strangely makes a real difference in ours when we go the second mile.  Taking the opportunity to help people when they don’t expect it and when you have no obligation to give it is a character and heart-life improving exercise. 

            This past Sunday morning I mentioned taking the shopping baskets (the kind that you carry around in the store) back to the pile for the cashier and mentioning it to the cashier.  I found myself caught between two points as I was thinking about telling her why I wanted to do that.  The first point was the desire to be modest and not call attention to myself.  The second was the desire to bear witness to the fact that Jesus Christ does put things like this in our hearts to do.  I’m glad I mentioned to her that I was doing it because of Christ and The Jesus Challenge, but I think it is always something we need to keep examining in ourselves.  Am I calling attention to myself or do I truly want to glorify Jesus? 

We can tie ourselves in knots worrying about such things, and I don’t want you to do that.  The truth is, if you are seeking self-recognition, it is not a condemnable offense.  Even Paul said of those who were preaching the Gospel out of envy and strife that it didn’t matter to him why people did it as long as the Gospel was preached.  So let’s give glory to Christ.  Let’s engage in The Jesus Challenge by helping people, and I hope you enjoy a fuller heart because you gave of yourself to others.

First of all, thank you for the feedback you gave on the last post.  I would ask that you do the same for this one.

At the beginning of September I’ll be planning all the sermons for our church for 2010.  What would you like to hear me preach about during 2010?  I prefer three to four sermon series on subjects that require Biblical truth to be helpful and pretty readily lean toward the how to (instead of merely an idea or a concept).  In other words, I like to try to answer the question:  How will this sermon help someone live life better?  You don’t have to sign your suggestion, but it is a huge help to me to be able to contact you, if need be, on stuff like this.  For me, conversation beats e-mail where I need to try to understand your idea more clearly.  So if you could give me the easiest phone number at which I can reach you, it might help me help the church.  Thanx.

It’s fun to change, and to change you usually need to find out that you need to (not as much fun).  The sermons I preach on Sunday morning are a big part of what I do, and a lot of people grant me a lot of ear time for which I am grateful, so – got any ideas on how I could do it better?  I know that you may be thinking, “he doesn’t really want my opinion.” Oh yes, I do!  Please take a minute and respond.

When you respond, please tell me which service you attend.  You don’t have to sign your suggestion.  Thanx.

Fly tying jumped on me from a Field and Stream article.  Before long I had learned to wrap fur, feathers, and other materials around a hook and could catch fish with the result.  My dad could work on a piece of furniture for months.  He loved the precision.  I preferred jobs I could finish in moments.  It’s been a personality trait of mine for life. I don’t know whether I can do anything about it or not. I don’t think it really matters whether I prefer five-minute or five-week projects.  Here’s a little thing I like to do when I come to church.  Sunday mornings I pull up to my office outside the door, drop Patty and our stuff off, then drive down to the back of the parking lot.  I want guests and seniors to be able to park closer to the building.  Brandon Petersen and I park at about the same spot and most Sundays walk in together.  Like I said, it’s a small thing but satisfying, and maybe it’s helpful to someone who needs a closer parking space.