Hot Tub Evangelism

Pastor of Care and Finance, Ron Mol

You never know the opportunities God may send your way on any given day - even when you leave the beautiful state of Colorado!

Last week I had the privilege of taking my wife and son on a vacation.  We left late on Friday and drove only to North Platte, Nebraska, where we found a Fairfield Inn to lodge for the night.  

Before retiring, Scott and I opted
for a visit to the hot tub.

When we got to the whirlpool, we found it was already occupied by a gentleman.While starting a conversation with him would fit my nature, I was also keenly aware that this would likely embarrass my teenage son, so I showed great restraint and remained silent.  Our predecessor in the hot tub did not have a teenager with him, however, so he was not inclined to restrain himself! “Where did you guys start your day today?” he asked.  “Well, we got a late start from Denver on our way to Chicago, how about you?”  I had taken the bait.

The stranger told us his name, and that he was returning to his home south of Denver from Chicago.  I told him we lived in Highlands Ranch.  

 He asked if I knew where the corner of Broadway and Mineral was.

At this point I thought God might be prompting me to talk about our church a little bit, so I told him I was a pastor and my church was right at that location.  He started asking me about our church and told me he was currently looking for one (about this time, Scott had had enough of the heat).  The stranger and I shared some of the details of our respective spiritual journeys, and he told me he would like to visit our church sometime.

So, if you meet a new face at church in the near future,
you may want to ask how he heard about our church!  And always be looking for an opportunity to share the good news with those you meet.

Learning to Come

Yesterday afternoon, I actually had some alone time to work on uploading pictures to my Shutterfly account so I could work on a memory book.  As it takes some time for photos to be moved, I had the brilliant idea of working on a watercolor painting I’d started last spring, but never finished.  So here I was moving from the computer on the deck, enjoying a warm afternoon before the storm hit, to go downstairs to where I paint.  Back and forth, back and forth.  And then it hit me.  Why am I making such a project of something that should bring joy and rest?

I took time with the photos, then thanked God for great times with my husband and extended family and the way we saw God at work in us.  After taking time to choose and upload the best photos (quite a project with a son, son-in-law and other extended family members who are great photographers!), I let it be for a while.  

Then I spent time finishing a painting from an anniversary trip.  As I took time to work on it, God brought to my quieted mind memories, not only of a great time with Steve, but also reminding me that it was on that trip that we got a phone call from my Mom that my Dad’s health was failing.  The beauty of the sunset I was painting was a reminder of God’s faithfulness and presence with us in the really good times and also the really challenging and difficult times.  

Isn’t that our life stories? Wonderful and hard, precious and desperate, quiet and crazy?  Yet in all of it comes Jesus’ voice:  “Come to me; come to me.”  As we spend time this fall as a church family considering the focus of “Running at the Pace of Grace,” let’s ask hard questions of ourselves: 

- Where do we needlessly impose stress on our lives?  

 
- Where can we take the necessary tasks before us and bring them to the Father as prayers?  

- How do we take Jesus’ statement seriously, “Learn from Me?

Thankfully Jesus does not expect us to do this alone.  His fulfilled promise to send a Comforter and Guide in the person of the Holy Spirit enables us to keep on learning and growing in Him.

“Mary!”

Pastor of Worship and Staff, David Dillon

As a seasoned substitute teacher my wife Heather has learned, within five minutes of entering a new classroom, which students' names she needs to know. See, there is power in knowing a person’s name, which is easily observed when a disruptive student hears their name and now knows their cover has been blown and anonymity is no more!

Of course there is a positive side to this too. Knowing a person’s name is honoring to them and often the first step toward a relationship. Hearing your name lovingly spoken by a spouse or parent allows you to rest in the familiar and comfortable place of I belong and I am valued.

In John 20 a broken-hearted Mary unexpectedly hears her name called out by the risen Jesus. Confusion, joy, wonder, and amazement must have simultaneously bombarded her thoughts. Hadn’t she seen him dead on the cross? But now, just as real and palpable as the stone that no longer covers his tomb, she hears, “Mary!” Oswald Chambers notes that she immediately recognized a personal history with the one who spoke. Everything he had done and said to her suddenly became even more true.

Can you recall times when your heart’s ear has heard Jesus call your name? What was that like? What about now - do you hear Him lovingly speak it?

Sometimes, like Mary, I think he speaks our name after a time of silence to surprise us and remind us that we do have a history with Him. During those silent times we can have a well-founded hope of that coming surprise. Other times we may wonder if there is just too much earwax in the way of really hearing him and we doubt his unique love for us. Then there are those times when we experience an ongoing intimate connection with him. In God’s economy, all of these seasons can be used by him to deepen our love for Him.

No matter where you find yourself on the continuum, Scripture assures us of his love for each of us. As the perfect Father, there is nothing that he desires more than to be intimately involved in each of his children’s lives. Isaiah 49:15 puts it like this: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”

Because he knows you by name.

Family Reunion?

What is the first thing you think of when you hear "family reunion?"

• Excitement to see family you have not seen in years? 
• Hope that there will be enough down time to actually talk and share a bit of your life's recent journey?
• Misgivings at being with individuals where there has been hurt or a broken relationships? 
• Dread at the idea of getting into your swimsuit?

Even with many mixed feelings at play, I hope there are anticipations of what God will do during such unique, set apart times. Let me share a personal example.

Forty-three "Thulsons" just came away from an amazing three days together.  While some individuals are struggling with health issues, lack of good jobs, and other issues as the result of living in a broken world, we loved being together.  I do not take for granted the foundation laid by my husband's parents, Roy and Lorraine, for the strength of faith and love in our extended family. 

As all of us shared Communion on Sunday morning, packed into our family room, I had a glimpse of the ultimate "family reunion" with our Abba, Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Imagine sharing stories of our life's journeys here, and how often -- just when it seemed as if God had given up on us -- it became evident that he was present. Imagine being held close to the heart of Jesus -- one unified family giving praise and honor to the Lamb, to our heavenly Father and to the Holy Spirit. That's a family reunion worth waiting for!