Evangalize - Be a Witness to the Word

According to the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary, evangelism is defined as:
Pronunciation: \i-ˈvan-jə-ˌli-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: circa 1626

1 : the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ
2 : militant or crusading zeal

Interestingly, the use of such a word in mainstream Christianity often brings thoughts of Tammy Faye Baker with her Eyelashes caked together



and the constant request for money from a televised mega-church. But evangelism is the call of all Christians; “go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19).

I was thinking about this command again the other day as I was watching the Duggars (the family with 18 children).



They are truly espousing the word of the Lord. They are not standing on a pulpit or “teaching” in any standard way that we think about it. Instead, they are just sharing their experience. In sharing, they are spreading the word. I thought this was a good example for all of us. We need not be ministers or deacons or Sunday School teachers (although it is certainly wonderful if you are), you can fulfill this commission by sharing your experience. You may never know who you reach or how or when the words that you speak will take root, but you have met the command if you speak the word.



“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 13:9 (KJV)

“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.” Isaiah 42:18 (KJV)

Proclaiming Your Faith Under Duress

I was looking for information on Today in history to post some information on Homeschool with Heart when I found this little tidbit for today.

"In 1520, Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict demanding that he recant, or face excommunication."

Can you imagine feeling so confident in your beliefs that you would face excommunication from the all powerful church? What do you believe? Have you ever taken the time to write it down? Have you ever reviewed your beliefs, thought about why you feel the way you do? Have you ever shared your thoughts with others?

As, we talked about in my DD's God & Life class this week, do people know that you are a Christian? Can they read it in your behavior? Do you stand as a visible witness to His Word? Have you inspired someone through your behavior and beliefs? We do not have to face excommunication like Martin Luther, nor do we need to found a new denomination, but we do have an obligation to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28 19-20 NIV) Have you followed this commission today? yesterday? everyday? Would you do so under pressure? Under the threat of excommunication, physical harm, death?

Be Inspired by Jesus' Ministry

Did you know that Jesus' ministry was between 2-4 years long (depending on scholarly opinions & interpretation). I have to admit that I did not. I had never really thought about it and certainly had never timed it out. I always assumed that it was much longer than that. Take a minute to think about that, Jesus' ministry - 2-4 years.

For me, this idea has huge implication: Two to four years of Jesus' life have reverberated and impacted people for more than 2,000 years around this entire earth. While clearly none of us are the Messiah, we are God's wonderous creations. What can we accomplish if we devote ourselves to a cause? What impact may we have?

This idea of micro & macro effect struck me. Jesus, one man in a very small area of our vast world, preached for a relatively short time and he changed the world. What seed did God plant in your heart? What gifts? How can your actions inspire others?

2 years, 2,000 years ago changed the world
What can you do with 1 hour a month?
a week?
a day?

Man Arrested for Stealing Communion Wafers

Last night, I saw the most disturbing news story on the news. It was reported that a man in Florida was arrested for stealing communion wafers in a church. He was actually physically held down by parishioners until the authorities came.

I guess I may have a warped view of this, as I have thought it before when I have heard about church robberies, so forgive me for spouting, but I figure that if someone has the gaul to come into a sanctuary and take something that they know is for the worship of God then perhaps they need it more than the church does. Specifically I think to several scriptures:

Matthew 12: 1-8

"1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."
3He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,'you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." (NIV)

1 Samuel 21

1 David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met him, and asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?"
2 David answered Ahimelech the priest, "The king charged me with a certain matter and said to me, 'No one is to know anything about your mission and your instructions.' As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find."
4 But the priest answered David, "I don't have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women."
5 David replied, "Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men's things are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!" 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the LORD and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away. (NIV)

Matthew 25: 31-46
31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (KJV)

I am sure that I could go on and on, but you get the point. I am also sure that there is more to this story than the briefing in the news, but if a man has to steal wafers, should we not hand him the whole bowl?

Listening to the New Testament

My husband is not a reader like me. One, he just is not a reader by nature, but two,he doesn't have time to. However, he has made a goal of reading the Bible. So as a gift I purchased him this audio version of the New Testament. The nice thing about this version is that many famous people read the parts including Richard Dreyfus, Lou Gosset, and Stacy Keach. This diversity and fine reading makes it interesting for him to listen to during his commute to Mass. It has even intregued the kids and they enjoy listening in the truck. I like listening, reading, and talking about scripture as each time it seems I learn a little more and yet know almost nothing.

"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready." 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

And my family and I admit that we still have a lot of preparation to do and we are willing to work on it.



Do any of you have suggestions for a good audio version of the Old Testament?

Being A Living Witness

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”- Matthew 5:14,16

Have you noticed that Christmas is being de-Christianed. I realize that it is a little early to think about Christmas, but it is very pertinent to this scripture. First, Santa and presents replaced the real gift of Jesus Christ. Now, people are even afraid to say, “Merry Christmas”. We say, “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings”. We don’t want to offend anyone, but I think we are offending someone. We are denying our belief in Jesus Christ. We are denying our own personal beliefs. We are denying God. We should shout “Merry Christmas” from the mountain tops.

This scripture calls us to show the world the power of God though our life. If we are afraid to attribute our life to God’s glory then how are people going to see the connection. This doesn’t mean that you have to wear a t-shirt saying, “I work for God” and it doesn’t mean that you really have to shout your beliefs to others. It just means being proud, sharing your beliefs, voicing your calling. If you are growing in God, then He is a natural part of your life. So let people know. If you are going to Bible Study, mention it. You don’t know who may be inspired to join. If the sermon was particularly moving, talk about it. Perhaps others will be moved as well as you. If you are planning to pray for someone, tell them. They may appreciate it and maybe they do the same for someone else.

When people realize through your conversation that you are a Christian, they will look deeper into your life to see how else you proclaim your beliefs. Unfortunately, as humans, we have a terrible habit of stereotyping people and assuming when we know 1 person, we know an entire group. In this case, you can use this idea with positive results. You can demonstrate love, patience, kindness, self-control, faithfulness. In you, non-believers can begin to see the light and those that do believe can be inspired to grow.

So I encourage you to start looking for your Christmas cards now and let them proclaim you love and belief in God and the birth of His son, Jesus Christ.


All this day, O Lord,
Let me touch as many lives as possible for thee;
And every life I touch, do thou by thy spirit quicken,
Whether through the word I speak,
The prayer I breathe, or the life I live.
-Mary Summer

FYI – Do not fall into the group who faults those who use “Merry X-mas”. Some people claim that this is taking the Christ out of Christmas, but actually there is historical significance to the X. Unfortunately, there was a time when proclaiming your Christianity was dangerous and so many believer used the “X” as a secret symbol to let others know that they were believers too. Check out Wikipedia for more information and background on this idea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas