Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Sharing the Living Water with Rob

Rob is a 24 year old fireman and I met him in line at Potbelly Sandwich Shoppe. Luckily, service was slow that day so we had a lengthy conversation before being served. I was feeling the prompting of God to talk to him about spiritual things so I asked him to what church he belonged. He said he had never really gone to church. Potbelly was crowded and there was only one table available so I invited him to eat with me. I asked him about himself and he told me his story. Broken relations. Dabbled in drugs. Father died of cancer when he was 14. Alcoholic mother. Struggling with being a fireman, not having time to date women. Slowly making his way through college. Budding actor. Amateur musician. Spiritually drifting. Went to church camp in high school with a friend but no commitment to Jesus.

"So why do you ask me about my church? What do you know about church?"

I told him about Jesus. I told about how God wants to work in his life. I talked about being filled with the Holy Spirit. I talked to him about his purpose. I listened. I suggested that he read a Bible, he said he didn't have one. I had a copy of an easy to read version in my truck and I gave it to him. He said church just seemed like a show with no substance. I assured him that there were churches who were pursuing Jesus, that wanted a relationship with God.

It was engaging. It was fun. Sharing the story of Jesus with Rob and giving my testimony to what God is doing in my life is such a rush...it is filled with purpose and meaning. It is what I was made to do.

How do you feel when you share the story of Jesus?

9 comments:

  1. I started having bible verses embroidered on my caps that I wear to work. We are not allowed to prosthelitize at work, but I am allowed to have freedom of speech. Occassionally, someone challenges my rights to have the verse or knows that I am christian and asks me things. Not as grand as you, but something little.

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  2. That is so wonderful!! There is nothing like being able to share Christ with others. I like what the guy said about church seeming like a show without substance because it ties in with a book I am reading called, "UNFASHINABLE" by tullian tchividjian (he is one of Billy Graham's grandsons). He had gone away from the Lord when young and one day went into a church--he said he was "remarkably refreshed to discover a place that focused on the centrality of God....Through both the music and the mesage, the transcendent presence of God punctured the roof, leaving me--like Isaiah when he entered the temple--awestruck and undone.....It wasn't some carefully orchestrated performance (which believe me, I would have seen right through). Rather, the people of God were simply honoring God as God....In the Bible the glory of God is God's 'heaviness', his powerful presence.....I was a seeker being reached, not by a man-centered, trendy show, but by a God-centered, transcendent atmosphere.....My experience in church that morning convinced me that serious seekers today aren't looking for something appealing and trendy. They're looking for something deeper than what's currently in fashion.......Younger generations don't want trendy engagement from the church; in fact, they're suspicious of it. Instead they want truthful engagement with historical and theological solidity that enables meaningful interaction with transcendent reality. They want desperately to invest their lives in something worth dying for, not some here-today-gone-tomorrow fad." I love that--and that is God used in my life to bring me to Himself--the vibrant difference of the church I visited when I was 16. (Hmm, I think I will post this on my blog ;-) ) Have a great day in Him!

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  3. hmm, I am a follower of your blog but I have not been getting the updates---where am I supposed to be getting them? (I get some people's at my email, and some are on my google page--but I don't get yours)

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  4. Sorry Nannykim, I am a technotard and don't don't how to get the updates to you. Wish I knew how to help. Thanks for following my writing.

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  5. I receive an update on my dashboard when I sign in to blogger. Hopefully, nannykim will be able to find it on her's too.

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  6. Thanks Terry. I would rather believe its all about elvin magic. I know I have a dashboard and ....I just discovered the update thing...cool. Learn something every day.

    Good luck Nannykim.

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  7. Thanks for the help--I had to do a few changes and now it is on my dashboard. Now I will know how to add others (hopefully, I will remember what I did!)

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  8. Very inspiring to hear other testimonies about sharing your faith. In a way I think it provides me with more courage to do the same when opportunity presents itself.

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  9. You have what it takes...God has given you everything you need to share your testimony...you can always practice your testimony on me...take it for a test drive with me...I would love to hear it.

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