Category — Servant Evangelism

Drumroll please. Here’s a ‘Tah-Dah’ that might actually open a peeper or two. If you have been asleep, ask someone to wake you by whatever means necessary – (yes, there is now and then a good reason to sign the ‘Whatever It Takes’ waiver – for times just like today.)

RISE AND SHINE BUEHLER! (high voltage cattle prod, stun device of your favorite accessory color, or a flick on the ear ala Mr. Schmidt your 10th grade earth science teacher).

Before - we - can - convey – a – bit – of – information – regarding – God’s – kingdom – we must – begin – to - regain - credibility – with - not - yet – believers.

We - must - make - amends - for - the - Bozo - shenanigans - the - Church - has - done - to – people – REAL – OR – IMAGINED - even – though – we – likely – disagreed – with – said – matters.

There is much more to explain than this opening thought. But make no mistake. We are in the middle of the Church age that requires us to seek forgiveness with nearly all we connect with before any hope of credibility is established.

Chew on this. Stay tuned kids. There’s more!

I’m making a New Year’s resolution… now that it’s late May.

I caught onto the futility of the resolution thing a long time ago and stopped doing them. Such things are useless in my mind (no offense unless the shoe fits…) To do so is akin to

“And this year I’m going to push a different colored car uphill while the transmission is in ‘Drive’ with the engine off and the parking brake set.”

In other words, ‘Can’t get there from here.’

Resolutions accomplish one thing. To those paying close attention – they point out we can do nothing apart from God’s intervention in our trek continually. Even with such an ‘Interventional life’ we are going to screw things up in a jolly big way. Guaranteed.

“So,” you ask, “why the resolution since you are so not into it?” I use this merely as an expression, not as something I’m seriously seeking to accomplish with a mighty college effort. The goal here is to zero in on the matter closest to Jesus’ heart (that is, if the Scriptures are to be taken seriously).

Gathering - is - priority - one.

Okay, that’s not news. Gathering is just a new fangled way of saying ‘Evangelism.’ Many have made this point over and over and over… (someone do me a favor and hit the ‘endless loop’ feature on the GarageBand software). ‘There are no ordinary people. All are extraordinary because they are all everlasting. They are all created by God. He loves them all beyond our ability to grasp a percentile of.

Just a thought to put on the back burner: The word ‘Evangelism’ is so vastly misunderstood maybe we are wise to invest some time as leaders / activists digging into the ‘E-word’ as I dubbed it in Conspiracy of Kindness fifteen years ago. (The word is a combination of ‘message’ and ‘angels’ – roughly translated, ‘The message of the angels.’ Lay that next to the outworking we see today and the above suggestion begins to bear merit).

Have you noticed that on every cover of Oprah’s magazine she is smiling? Think what you want, but I believe her smile is sincere. She does nothing for financial gain—that point in her life passed long ago. For Oprah, it’s about spiritual meaning.

Measuring America’s Spiritual Hunger
If spiritual health is measured according to outward matters, the decline of the Roman, Protestant (you name it) empire is upon us. But maybe spiritual health is not so one-dimensional as 30-second phone polls can measure when we are disturbed in the evening hours.

Attendance, size, the counting of heads is not the sole barometer most “Influentials” in history have relied upon to measure the state of true spiritual affairs.

Jesus did not pay one spit of attention to the fluctuating attendance of the crowds who showed up when He spoke. If He had bought into this emotional roller coaster of such passing silliness, confusion would have perhaps ensued.

If we insist on counting something, Jesus might encourage us to count backward—to measure what we divest ourselves of. America has had it with “come and see” spirituality. Now is the day of “go and do.” And Jesus launched that movement some time ago.

Does Oprah Understand What Others Don’t?
Oprah has vast spiritual influence over most of the Western world. When Oprah speaks, things happen.

This is no news flash, though. Oprah’s vast influence extends beyond the media scene and into the deepest parts of the spiritual heart of the United States. How? you wonder. She is in touch with non-complex heart leanings in each of us—inclinations that have been placed in us by God.

On her hit prime-time show, Oprah’s Big Give, Oprah has noticed the power generosity has to change lives. Like every reality show, this one has an abundance of adrenaline-filled contestants. Jumping abounds. There is an unnatural amount of smiling going on. But her show is unique as well. The winner is the one who gives away the greatest amount of money over several weeks—in as wise ways as possible.

Ms. Oprah has tapped into the depths of all of us. It’s the “if money were no object” dream we talk about—and this dream is becoming viral. Everyone is chatting about it. This virus might just get out of control, in the best sense.

Kindness, Schmindness. So What?
Kindness is a word that has been bandied about in recent years. We confuse it with similar words (like niceness), but it stands head and shoulders above synonyms.

You might wonder, Why bring God into this consideration? The “God factor” is what distinguishes kindness from niceness or other even less powerful encounters. Any of us can be nice when the mood strikes us, when we are feeling rested, well, etc. Kindness is another matter completely. Kindness, to be clear, is only possible when God shows up.

You and I don’t know each other, but this I suspect about you: Regardless of how broken your upbringing may have been, there were moments when kindness occurred along your journey.

I did not grow up attending church (to be accurate, I was downright skeptical of all things church-ish), but I can now see the seeds of kindness that were scattered into my soul, which led to a profound conversion during college. Those seeds were slow-growing, undetected, but they eventually bore fruit. It was God at work beneath the surface.

When our lives have been touched by authentic kindness, we tend to never forget those moments. They are everlasting, living encounters. Only the God of the universe can orchestrate such.

Friend or Faux?
In recent years, many have begun to notice the latent power of kindness, serving and generosity. More than a small percentage of spiritual organizations have sought to use kindness as a tool—something to promote a message. In that equation, the understanding is: We serve; then people will listen. Kindness is not a tool one can use to gain advantage over others!

Any thinking in this direction is to manipulate both God and His people. Neither God nor most people will put up with such nonsense. People are not oblivious when agendas are present. To be kind but not genuine is to destroy the possible conveying of any positive message.

Indeed, a message will be conveyed—a tragic one where cocooning occurs. That is, those in the community isolate themselves further and further away from anything down the road that is real.

Breaking Free
When God’s kindness is loosed, a culture begins to build. Each day I connect with many people in simple ways that ease their burdens—much like Oprah. One hundred percent of them ask why I am showing them practical kindness (paying for their Starbucks drink, showing them respect by remembering their names at the places I frequent, getting cashiers a bottle of water and insisting they take it).

There is plenty to chat with people about when kindness is afoot. Let’s just go and do with a clean heart.

Thoughts along the outward journey from Janie Sjogren

Here’s a switcharoo as an entry for today.

My greatest asset on the planet is the lovely and talented Janie Sjogren - we just celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary. I wake up each morning now with two spontaneous thoughts - “Jesus, thank you I have one more day… thank you for the indescribable gift of Janie…”

As you read here you will see why I use some of these adjectives. My life has been immensely shaped by her heart. She is the most remarkable person I have met. (No kidding, many have told me the same thing!) Since she doesn’t have a blog (yet) here is some of her heart…

Have you noticed how often the ‘right now’ thing God is up to happens on the way to what we thought was the plan? If we are open to noticing what he is about, a steady stream of adventures cross our paths.

New Friend - James C., 75 Years Young

“So you can read better now?”

This was a rhetorical question. I was just making conversation during the long silence. His eyes lit up - his demeanor said the rest.

It isn’t ‘cool’ for men to tear up, but he got a little misty - kind of surprising even though we had just met a couple of minutes before.

This happened in the Ybor City section of Tampa - an older, gentrified area with nice restaurants. Several dozen friends from CoastlandTampa were together to give away a few thousand bottles of water at a half marathon. What better excuse to connect with people, both runners and the crowd, than walking out a practical expression of Jesus’ love through bottles of water! Sometimes Jesus ‘cup of water’ - Matt. 25 - is literally what is needed at the moment.

This elderly black man was reading his newspaper as we walked by. What was unusual about him - he held the paper so close that his nose nearly touched the print!

“You look like me when I don’t wear my glasses!”

He asked me to repeat myself so I did. With that we had a conversation going. I happened to have an extra pair of unisex reading glasses on me. As he slipped them on, I couldn’t help thinking that they looked pretty good on my new friend.

Who Gained The Most? Easy Answer

Not too long ago I was intimidated at the notion of approaching a stranger with what was probably an inspired ‘notice.’ Today I couldn’t walk past James without addressing his obvious need. Honestly, the thought that came to me was, “How badly can this go? At worst, I will never see him again! At best, this could be the beginning of the dominoes toppling in his life until he becomes a Jesus follower… if he isn’t already in love with Jesus.” Either way there is nothing to lose.

It wasn’t long ago that this encounter would have gone differently.

A. I would have not noticed him in the least, OR

B. I would have had no idea how to connect with him.

I now realize God does his noticing through me. I walk past lots of people with needs - the noticing is not occurring with all who have needs - it is just with those being pointed out by God. It’s very simple really.

This I know - the invitation from on high is being picked up on by me clearly now. I remember now how I started out noticing when I first began following Jesus, but somehow I lost my ‘glasses’ along the way. I convinced myself that it is complex and difficult to read God’s eye chart. Not true at all!

This noticing thing is contagious and ironic. The one who picks up on what Jesus is up to is always touched / blessed more than the receiver of ‘glasses’ of any sort being handed out. Yes, they begin to see, but more importantly, the glasses giver remember how it is to see and how to notice our way into the lives of those God so loves…

Those around me are gaining courage as they see how uncomplex this all is. Those previously fearful of noticing - noticing myths bite the dust.

This is downright viral!

“Do I just look dumb to you or what? You give me your little bottle of water then expect me to show up at your church a few days later.  How lame is that?!”

These are the words of someone I ran into not long ago as we distributed several thousand bottles of water at a busy corner in the Tampa area.  The approach is simple:

‘Light turns red - ask ‘Which would you prefer, this or this?’ (right hand water or left hand water - we don’t ask the closed ended ‘Would you like some water?’ - that is lame - people usually laugh when we offer the left or right handed water!)  After people receive water just once they begin to call us the “Water People!”  There are worse things to be known for.

This is all based on the simple observation that a deposit of credibility is necessary before we have any expectation whatsoever of having credibility with people in our city.  ‘Words of love’ are hollow, perhaps absurd, to the culture of today without preceding actions of love that connect with people.  Those actions vary from place to place.

“Don’t Shoot - I’m Just The Piano Player!”

Unfortunately, more than a few have picked up on the above observation and have attempted to influence others by serving - in inauthentic ways.  You ask, “Who says they are inauthentic?”

These are the observations of numerous national newspaper reports.  As well, these are the rumblings of not-yet believers who feel insulted at what they sense is an attempt to ‘sell them’ on something.  I make it a practice of connecting with not-yet believers pretty much every day - it isn’t that difficult.  Buy the coffee for the person behind you at Starbucks.  If you have five or ten minutes an automatic conversation ensues.  I hear a lot of chatter about “Marketing” by serving these days.  (NOTE: It is interesting to me that of the literally several thousand I have bought coffee for, not one has ever asked me what I was trying to push on them or any notion remotely in that direction… less than five have ultimately turned me down of that huge group - they all lived in Iowa for some reason!)

I have been around the block in the church world enough in recent years to know this observation is right on.  Marketing is death in any form it takes - this is exponentially true for the church scene.  Seth Godin said it well in his book title recently, All Marketers Are Liars!  It is one thing to inform people.  Any attempt to ‘persuade’ people regarding your church without a willingness to establish a relationship for the long haul - is futility.  

(The guy who uttered the words at the beginning? We spoke for about five minutes. I confessed, “There is a big difference between me handing out a bottle of water and Jesus touching people’s needs or pain.” The light went on. He began to tear up. He asked, “So what time do you meet? Do you have a children’s program? My wife and I have been talking about church lately - funny we would cross paths.” This was a 180-degree shift. It helped that I had this conversation a time or two before…)

Engage, Don’t Panic  

This desperation thinking troubles me greatly. This is not what Jesus had in mind when he charged the Apostles to freely give what they had experienced firsthand for three years, 24/7 - to bring the ‘Logos’ to the ends of the Earth.  

The Logos?  “In the beginning was the Word (logos)… and the Word (logos) was God…”  We bring Jesus - in word, in deed, in Spirit.  To be clever is okay.  To see God’s presence branded upon hearts - ah, that lasts a lifetime, no matter how long the initial encounter. 

It’s All Caught … Then Explained

Some think it’s clever to parrot, “That’s one of those things that is more ‘caught than taught.’” No longer funny nor clever. Please explain what isn’t caught. One thing - please. Somebody. ‘Bueller, Bueller, has anyone seen Ferris Bueller?’

When we serve others it is natural they ask, ‘So what’s this all about?’

Peter said, ‘Be ready to give an account of the hope that lies within you…’ Many have given their version of what Pete was alluding to. My shot in light of the context of his comments is this: His comments on this are located near the question of how to win a not-yet believing spouse. The answer is simple and by the way flies in the face of dozens of messages I have heard from well-intentioned teachers. Peter says, ‘Live a stellar life… be careful to not over-use words with those closest near you…’ That is a summary of course. You read it. If you hyperventilate I’m sorry but that’s is what Peter says. You may want to read it several times after breathing into a brown paper bag if the hyperventilation begins to occur.

Talk Less Or You Might Become Toxic

Peter is clarifying there comes a time when words can begin to cocoon people away from the message. “Uhh.” Words get in the way of the message? Absolutely. If you are an adult convert you understood this clearly once upon a time whether you can remember that now or not. In case you can’t remember that just spend half an hour at Starbucks and ask some friendly faces after you’ve paid for their venti sized coffee drinks. They will confirm Peter’s two thousand year old inspired insight.

“Might” become toxic - some have the learned skill of talking when its time to talk and listening in right proportions. Listening a lot is the way we earn the right to have the barest bit of integrity that allows us to become people who can connect with those around us who are in the funnel coming toward Christ.

Ever try to make a withdrawal without first a deposit in the account at your bank? You won’t get very far. I see people who are trying to ‘do evangelism’ (those two words are pregnant - “Can I do evangelism to you?”)

Deposits come in many ways.

Listening is one of the most profound ways.

Listening is perhaps most often done by us slowing down and literally using our ears - however, listening is a comprehensive activity. We listen with our entire being…

Body language communicates with our entirety that we are an audience to what the person in front of us is about - that what they are up to is IMPORTANT - to us… and guess what - to God.

No deposit. No right whatsoever to begin to make a penny’s worth of withdrawal.

Never again a conversation that has been memorized…

Hi, my name is uh… (now quickly glance at cue card in left, no, right hand) uh, Steve…
May I share something with you that is very, very important to me…?

The above actually does ‘work’ with those on the east side of town in Lemming, Iowa and Syracuse, East Virginia. But since 1974 no reports of church growth have been reported that are deemed credible.

The more the Servant Evangelism / Outflow message goes forward, the more I need to clarify what is not being said in all of this. 

The new edition of Conspiracy of Kindness is about to be released - great news.  However, many leaders - with whatever intentions, have taken the original concept I couldn’t have more clearly explained in terms of what wasn’t being conveyed in that book. 

Now I am adjusting the ServantEvangelism.com site regularly to bring this back to the pure expression of the powerful idea that it indeed is. 

It’s not doing something to get people to come to your church…

We serve because the spirit of Jesus dwells in us.  Our ‘new normal’ is to serve. We don’t take serving lessons.  We don’t manipulate others / anyone - anytime - in order to get them to listen to us - to respond to us. 

We serve in utter simplicity because it is normal for us.

And long-term we are changing the spiritual culture of a city - state - country - beyond. 

Each time we do even the smallest ‘Jesus thing’ we are in some small way extending the kingdom of God on planet Earth. 

In so doing we are leading people into the kingdom. 

Will churches focused upon such things grow?  Absolutely.

However if churches that do such things seek to grow by doing such things - (say that three times fast)

… they will sabotage the work of God’s Spirit in expanding the kingdom in their midst. 

The “Flying C” Ranch is in full swing - or coming upon that (Coastland). 

We went out last weekend to do an outreach in an area not far from where we will gather for our pre-launch weekend, Jan. 13th.  Great stuff.  Were able to converse with 3,000 in about an hour - and even at that we were doing it during the hot, hot, hot part of the day - AND we did a number of things pretty much completely backwards. 

Just think - if we get our act somewhat together next time we might be slightly more efficient. 

Amazing how much of a learner’s attitude it takes to serve others.  There is little that can be done that is meaningful in serving unless those serving are committed to an ongoing teachable attitude.

Moving toward our departure date to Tampa.
 
Not many know this about Cincinnati.  This was a the first stop for most breaking out of slavery as escapees crossed over the Ohio river – not necessarily an easy task if one was swimming.  Near Cincinnati that swim is through rapidly flowing current and well over half a mile wide river depending on the season.  Some had boats but most smaller boats were a challenge to maneuver as well.  The weather was / if often foggy at the river level.  Add to that lots of barge and riverboat traffic and you have a easy disaster.
 
The famous line that became a rally cry among those considering an escape from captivity was a line from one who had successfully made the trek across the river.  His line was simple:

I only wish that were true – for people of any color, or for those in the spiritual realm.
It wasn’t long after that Moody came to Cincy and had what he later reported as the worst time of his ministry.  He went on to dub the city as a “graveyard” for evangelism, churches and warned anyone considering coming here away.
 
Things have certainly changed.  Serving way over 10 million (no idea of the exact number) will change a spiritual environment.