Don't push your ideas on me.
Don't tell me what I should believe or should not believe.
Don't offend me with your ideas.
Don't tell me what to do or not to do.

Tolerance seems to win out. Tolerance seems to be easier than a real honest conversation. Tolerance seems best to fall back on since we have so many other things we have to do and give our attention too.

But, isn't tolerance an idea? Isn't tolerance a truth statement? Isn't tolerance a form of a belief system?

Few people love conflict. Most want to get along with others. So, it is easier to avoid topics that offend others. 

If we say nothing about the love of Jesus are we choosing tolerance over the Great Commission?

If we say nothing about the love of Jesus are we choosing comfort over Jesus? The way Jesus lived His life, His teachings, His torture and death were all very offensive. Yet, He did all of this to offer salvation to you, to me and to everyone. Then He said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been give to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations...." Matt 28:18-19

If we say nothing about the love of Jesus are we choosing comfort over love? When you love someone, don't you want the best for them? Aren't we desiring for them to become all that they were created to become? Isn't the most loving act anyone can do for another is to introduce them to Jesus?

Why was Paul arrested, imprisoned, beaten, stoned, flogged and eventually martyred? Because he loved Jesus enough to tell others about Him. Because he loved others so much that He did not want them to miss out on the greatest gift the world ever received, Jesus. Maybe instead of talking politics or issues, we can talk about the person of Jesus.

How offensive is it for you to invite someone to coffee or take a walk and ask them what they believe and why they believe it? Isn't it loving to become a student of them and their beliefs? Isn't it loving to really listen, ask questions and to be willing to share what you believe?

Of course, this may cause offense and uncomfortableness. But, isn't that what growing and maturing is all about, the freedom to share ideas in a loving, kind yet honest manner?
Seeking to share the love of Jesus,
Pastor Chris

Are you living in such a way that people have questions about your life?

Does your passion for life and unique ways of serving everyone cause those who are far from Jesus to wonder about you?

Does your attitude of joy, hope and willingness touch everyone in such away that they are wondering how can you be so full of life?

Does your conversation about other people behind their back shock others because what you say is not negative but rather always pointing out the positive?

Do your daily random acts of service cause people to take notice?

"All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8-9 

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:13-17 

As you Listen to Jesus every morning...
As you Risk to do the creative idea He gives you to do...
As your Christ like attitude, conversation about others and these random acts of service are others asking you why are you so full of the joy of life?

Are others amazed at how you are more and more alive like Jesus?
Are others desirous to sit down and talk with you about life?
Are you weekly Sharing with others about how Jesus is your best friend whom you cannot do your day without?

Are you LR, BB and S so much so that others are asking you to S?

Are you Listening to God, Risking to do what God says, Being with others and Building them up and Serving them in such away that they are asking you to Share why you are so alive with a beautiful freshness?

Who is going to want to become a follower of Jesus because you are LR, BB and SSing? 
Maybe this Easter our church will be filled with the people in each of your lives who are far from God because we are LR, BB and SSing.
Can you see hell depopulating?
Can you see heaven populating?

Praying for Jesus to be so alive in you that it causes others to ask you questions,
Pastor Chris

Jesus said, "The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost." What was the circumstance that caused Jesus to make this statement? Was Jesus in a synagogue preaching a sermon? Was Jesus training His disciples? Was Jesus in a place where He gathered His followers to do a Bible study of some sort?

Jesus was walking into a city, following the guidance of His Heavenly Father. He was again going to meet people, to interact with people, to serve people. At one point Jesus invited Himself over to a very wealthy, successful yet disliked businessman named...

Jesus served this relational starved man.
Jesus served this spiritual empty man.
Jesus served this emotional scared man.
Jesus valued this man. Jesus listened to this man. Jesus loved this man. Then Jesus forgave this man. Jesus healed this man. Jesus gave this man an entirely new identity; the old was miraculously removed and the new had come. Jesus brought salvation to Zacchaeus. Luke 19

Interesting that Jesus did not stay in one city nor one synogogue nor in one place waiting for people to come to Him. Jesus daily and weekly went from one town to the next seek to serve people.

As we have the heart, mind, attitude of Christ, do we have the similar mission to daily and weekly go to people far from God to serve them? Do we have a similar drive like Jesus to wake up every day to meet with our Heavenly Father and then eagerly seek to serve people, especially those like Zaccheaus; whose souls are broken, scared and empty? Think what a soul wounded and soul empty person in our lives would love to be given their favorite beverage... How would their heart be touched because you invited them to coffee or lunch? How would their minds be challenged to see the serving love of Jesus flow out of you into them for no reason other than that they are deeply loved by Jesus?

When was the last night you served a person like Zaccheaus?
Do you know the favorite beverage of five people in your life who are far from God? When was the last time you put that favorite beverage on their desk at work?

What other creative ways is Jesus revealing to you so that you can personally serve people far from Jesus today, this week?

Seeking to serve the Zaccheaus' in my life today and this week.
Pastor Chris

L&R - Listen to God and Risk to do what He wants
B&B - Be With Christians and Build Up Christians
S&S - Serve Not Yet Christians and Share Jesus with Not Yet Christians

When was the last time someone made your day? When was the last time someone complimented you? When was the last time you overheard someone talking about you and it was very positive, the opposite of gossip?

Words have power. Other people's opinion of us can truly hurt or help.

As we continue to let Jesus do His full work of redemption in us, let's join Him by Building Up the people in our lives.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Eph 4:29

Our culture, our education and many of the relationships in our lives train us to look for what is wrong; to critique. Of course God gave us an incredible mind to think, to analyze, to examine, to understand, to learn. It is so natural for all of us humans to critique others; our co-workers, classmates, neighbors, employers, employees, entertainers, politicians and even our family members. 

The question becomes, do we let our education, culture and daily experiences guide how we treat others? Or do we let our new life in Christ guide us on how we treat others?

Jesus loves everyone, even when they are not adopted into His family. Amazingly, Jesus still loves those of us who have been adopted into His family; yet we still sin. Think of the depth of love Jesus has and shows you everyday even as He knows all of your weaknesses, shortcomings, selfishness and sin.

Let the first few verses of Eph 4 sink in. "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

How do we continue to let Jesus' redemption work in us to transform us to actually truly love all the people in our lives? How can we let Jesus change our easy critique of others to be transformed into seeking to love them anyways. How can we become more like Jesus and use our minds to see all the beautiful characteristics, talents and gifts of each person in our lives? How can we be more like Jesus and love those whom we do not like?

How can we use our words to intentionally and meaningfully Build Up others every day?

Seeking to let Jesus transform us to be Builder Uppers,
Pastor Chris

L&R - Listen to God and Risk to do what He wants
B&B - Be With Christians and Build Up Christians
S&S - Serve Not Yet Christians and Share Jesus with Not Yet Christians