Having salvation through Christ’s death and resurrection has secured our constant joy.

When I was going to college in Casper, Wy I remember attending a January Bible study at a sister church in our area.  I don’t really recall what the subject was, nor much else of what happened but what I do remember is something that Pastor Gary Hans said.  You have to realize Pastor Gary came to faith in Christ well into adulthood and later felt the call to serve God as Pastor of this small church.  Nonetheless his preaching cut straight to the heart when he said,

If your talking the talk and not walking the walk, you need to shut up!

There were shocked eyes (none more than his wife’s) and a few Amen’s sprinkled throughout the congregation.  Even though this is an incredibly true statement, I wonder how often we fail as believers to even talk the talk.  For all of our speak of relational methods of evangelism, the evangelism is left out, leaving us with anemic and purposeless relationship.  Paul in his letter to the Colossian church reminds them the key to “making the most of their time” is by speaking graciously and savouringly in order to answer each person.  Paul has effective evangelism in view here, desiring others to know the Christ whom he preaches through mouth watering speech.

I think it was O’Brien in his commentary on Colossians who asked,”When we speak about Christ are we speaking in a way that makes people’s mouths water?”.  That’s a powerful question.  Often as Christians we are known more for what we are against rather than speaking kind, gracious and life giving words.  Remember our mission is to be part of God’s mission in reconciling a lost and dying humanity back to Himself, and that requires having an answer for the hope that lay within us.

This week I challenge you to practice the 5-3-1 rule.  Meet 5 new people, have good conversations with 3 of them and tell 1 about the hope you have in Christ.  This may sound trite and simplistic, but if you fail to have a plan, you plan to fail.

What are some ways you endeavor to tell others about Christ?

Walking is a manner of life our “spiritual stride” if you will.  This isn’t strictly appearance motivated but includes how we spend our money, treat our families and interact with others.  Paul calls us to walk in Wisdom, something entirely different that the standard that is set forth by others.  The Wisdom of God is concerned with everyday life.

To often in the ghetto of our squeaky clean Christian subculture we have placed emphasis in the wrong place.  We have memorized “love your neighbor”, but don’t even know our neighbor’s name.  We have also memorized, “look after orphans and widows and those in distress”, but haven’t touched the life of a child other than our own.  We read of Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners, but cannot remember the last time we shared a meal with an unbeliever.

Truly walking in Wisdom focuses our attention outward, rather than inward and comes not so much in the classroom as it does in the crucible of everyday life.

God didn’t send His son to die on the Cross so you could sit on your couch and eat spiritual bon bons all day, but so that you may have life and have it abundantly, realizing your mission in this new life, is not to get fat spiritually fat and happy, but to join Him in His mission of reconciling a lost and dying humanity back to Himself.

For Paul, and us as well, this is what “making the most of our time” looks like.  It is seizing upon every moment that comes.  I know I am tremendously guilty for always looking forward to what’s next.  Like right now, I’m looking past getting this post done to a meeting I have in about 40 minutes.  Yet, when we continually look past where we are, we miss out on what is right in front of us and often this is where God desires to do His greatest work.  We need to remember moment has the opportunity to be soul saving.

When you think of “Walking worthy” what comes to mind?  Are you guilty like me of always looking ahead instead of asking what God is doing with you in the moment?  Any thoughts?

Beginning at 5:30 every morning and putting in at least 10-12 hours, not to mention one non-intentional trip through the roof and a bloodied knee did this would be blogger in and now one week removed we finally have a rap up and some pictures to speak of.

I have to say that Pat Graham is one hard working hombre, and the rest of the team from Southside Community Church did not disappoint. Ripping 4 layers of shingles off a nearly 100 year old building is no small feat, especially considering the gallons of paint that were put to use on the inside of the facility.

More than the physical work that was accomplished, (even though it is substantial), the Spiritual work done cannot be underestimated. Prayer walking took place first thing Monday Morning and throughout the week I know relationships were built within the community that will bear fruit for years to come.

Thanks again to Pat and his group, not to mention De Soto Pizza Hut and De Soto Sonic for providing lunch free of charge for two of the four days of work. The Kansas City Kansas Baptist Association provided lunch one other day and Mr. Goodcents of De Soto gave us 50% our entire order one other day.

Our friend Leann Sulzen from the De Soto Explorer also came and wrote another dynamite article about the work. Our hope is that this project is the first of many to come in service to our awesome community.

While this is the first week of service for De Soto Community Church, we couldn’t have done it without a mission team from Southside Community Church in Paragould, Arkansas coming to lend a hand. We are pumped for Pat and his group to be on site and are looking forward to the week of head. Check back here for pictures and updates throughout the week.

I’d hoped to begin writing on our core values in depth soon, yet shingles and and paint are priority this week. Next week looks more promising.