Bringing a living Jesus to a dying world

So....

How has it been for everyone?

Anything ridiculously awesome happen yet?

I know for me I am always finding myself on my toes; I'm finding myself SO much more aware of the people around me such as my waiters/waitresses, my cashiers, my customers, and just ordinary strangers. I'm constantly listening to the Holy Ghost for those who need to hear the gospel.

When I go into work, I always tell myself that I need to make ATLEAST one divine connection with one of my customers. I need to make a rememberable impression on atleast on of them. Giving the cards out has been easy for me. I often slip one into the sides of the pizza boxes at work. :P

How's it for everyone else? Where are we finding our struggles/strengths?

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Permalink Reply by Larry on August 12, 2009 at 9:25am: Installment #2

So...... I get off of the train from Dallas(my car is broken yet again) sit on one of the benches to wait for my wife to pick me up for leadership intake. After sitting for a couple of minutes a man sits next to me, we exchange pleasantries and sit there for a couple more minutes.
The Holey Ghost speaks a word to me. I think about it for a few seconds. Turn to him and said" I'm not sure where you are in life but I have a word for you. God told me to let you know that he has better things in store for you. He hasn't left you and is waiting for you to stop doing things your way and come back home."
He looks at me and says" I was just sitting here thinking to myself that I need to get a better job and start to make better decisions in life and with my money." We talk for about 20 minutes about how he has been beat up spiritually. He mentioned that he has made and is currently making bad decisions concerning money. I explain the up lift program to him, how it would benefit him to learn budgeting, and how it would help him to make better decisions in the future. I then explained the "catch". He would need to start living daily in Gods word, and be obedient. That he should start to pray for guidance, and when he receives a word that he needs to do what he was told. I prayed for him, got his number, texted him the address to the church, and I then told him he needs to act on what we spoke about. He in said" I'll try to ..........NO I will see you on Wednesday for church." I am praying that he doesn't get off track and makes it.

BE OBEDIANT
BE PRESENT
BE PREPARED; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joe Graham on August 13, 2009 at 12:57pm: My wife and I are having a yard sale today since we are moving down to get rid of stuff we don't need. I was reading some stuff on CT Studd and a lady stopped by who was part blind and missing an arm. Her daughter was with her and she had two kids one that I found out later was ADD the other had autism. My heart went out to them and we were talking as they bought stuff from our sale. I invited them to come to the church up hear and I could see the pain on her face. She said that another chuch she had went to condemed her for smoking and kicked her kid out of class because he is ADD. I told her that we were about loving God and Loving people. That we were not looking for perfect people. We just wanted them to have and encounter with God. She asked me a few more times that if they came would they be accepted. I told her that we she could sit with us and that everything would be fine. The grandma is the one without one arm but after they left the sale Jennie and I prayed for them. She had said she may come check the church out. I am believeing that She will come and get right with God and that all three of them will experence the power of Gods healing spirit, soul, body.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mel on August 18, 2009 at 10:05pm: Awesome, Joe! That's what it's all about...there are so many hurting people that need hope.

I'm pumped you guys are coming!! Keep us posted on the details. :-D

Joe Graham said:
My wife and I are having a yard sale today since we are moving down to get rid of stuff we don't need. I was reading some stuff on CT Studd and a lady stopped by who was part blind and missing an arm. Her daughter was with her and she had two kids one that I found out later was ADD the other had autism. My heart went out to them and we were talking as they bought stuff from our sale. I invited them to come to the church up hear and I could see the pain on her face. She said that another chuch she had went to condemed her for smoking and kicked her kid out of class because he is ADD. I told her that we were about loving God and Loving people. That we were not looking for perfect people. We just wanted them to have and encounter with God. She asked me a few more times that if they came would they be accepted. I told her that we she could sit with us and that everything would be fine. The grandma is the one without one arm but after they left the sale Jennie and I prayed for them. She had said she may come check the church out. I am believeing that She will come and get right with God and that all three of them will experence the power of Gods healing spirit, soul, body.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joe Graham on August 22, 2009 at 1:16pm: My buddy from home depot is coming to the church up here next sunday with his girlfriend/wife They have three kids just need to tie the not. I invited him a couple of times before and he kinda said he knew he needed to come but was busy. Well dinner afterwards got him to come. i guess he and his girl have been talking about getting back into church so Next week sunday they are coming. which is cool , like Ps John said Mathew went to his freinds first.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cameron on August 25, 2009 at 9:33am: One thing that I have found interesting is that the people I've talked to lately seem to treat church like insurance.. "no thanks, i'm covered." Some have seemed to have a geniune spark of interest in coming to church with me, but for some reason it seems to fade after 2 days.

As an update, the guy whose ankle I prayed for got better. He's been walking around without his cane and seems a lot better, but it seems like he's not really interested in coming to a place that can teach him how to flow in the supernatural. What I find very challenging, especially since I work at a "christian television station," is how no one seems to take you seriously when you invite them to church. What I find even more challenging is listenening to them talk and knowing that they have no doctrinal basis for anything they believe, but they're unwilling to move from a church that obviously doesn't challenge them with that.

I have noticed something very interesting. As I stated a moment ago, it's like people view church as an insurance policy, and depending on which one you go to determines what benefits you have. What's odd is how that is what many christians use to "hook" people. I've found myself faced with the temptation to try and get the people here in the doors of our church by telling them what we offer - ie, childrens' church, youth service, etc - mainly because you seem to lose their interest when you talk about doctrine and getting closer to God. Whenever I have a conversation with people at the studio about church, it's almost like the impression you get from them is "what can your church offer me that my church doesn't?" Gee, let me think... uh.. God? Sound Theology? A pastor that hasn't had his teeth capped? I constantly have to remind myself that the emphasis MUST be on God and the preaching of the gospel, mainly because it's so easy to cater to the "used car salesman" mentality... especially when you want to see them collide with Christ. Otherwise, their whole reason for being at church would be for a ministry we offer rather than the God we worship.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joe Graham on September 8, 2009 at 5:04pm: Just thought I would ask how things were going down in the great city of fort worth. Its been a crazy week but I am still looking for an opertuntiy to witness to somone; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joe Graham on September 13, 2009 at 9:21pm: We had our daughters birthday party today at TGI Fridays a resturant up here that she wanted to go to. We had my sister and her family and a friend from church come. Our waitress was very good and after we paid for the meal and gave her a big tip we starting talking about what she was doing in life. She wants to be a psycoligist. I invited her to come to church which she said she was too busy but I told her about angel food as well and she thought tha was a cool thing then she said her mom was looking for a church and she would give her the card. Plant the seed it will bear fruit in time. Just keep doing it; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mel on September 14, 2009 at 8:00am: Awesome, Joe! That's exactly right...just keep doing it. :-D

How's everything with you guys?

Joe Graham said:
We had our daughters birthday party today at TGI Fridays a resturant up here that she wanted to go to. We had my sister and her family and a friend from church come. Our waitress was very good and after we paid for the meal and gave her a big tip we starting talking about what she was doing in life. She wants to be a psycoligist. I invited her to come to church which she said she was too busy but I told her about angel food as well and she thought tha was a cool thing then she said her mom was looking for a church and she would give her the card. Plant the seed it will bear fruit in time. Just keep doing it; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joe Graham on September 14, 2009 at 6:40pm: Things are good just working our plan to move down. The house is gaining value everyday which is awesome. We are about to be able to put it on the market had a few things we need to do. I have been preaching up here at the church we go to which is cool. Life is good we are enjoying the climb while we take this journey of faith

Mel said:
Awesome, Joe! That's exactly right...just keep doing it. :-D

How's everything with you guys?

Joe Graham said:
We had our daughters birthday party today at TGI Fridays a resturant up here that she wanted to go to. We had my sister and her family and a friend from church come. Our waitress was very good and after we paid for the meal and gave her a big tip we starting talking about what she was doing in life. She wants to be a psycoligist. I invited her to come to church which she said she was too busy but I told her about angel food as well and she thought tha was a cool thing then she said her mom was looking for a church and she would give her the card. Plant the seed it will bear fruit in time. Just keep doing it; ▶ Reply to This