Target Practice

There really is a place called "Holy Grounds Cafe" located in Topeka KS. It's a great place for target practice. Monday through Friday 8:30am - 1:30pm people walk by, getting their daily exercise. Little do they know they are also targets.

I have started setting my sights on them. For most of them I have less than 6 to 7 seconds to get off a shot. Some are slower and some even stop and are caught in my proverbial cross hairs. I have even tried setting up some interesting little distractions made to look like cartoon drawings that some unsuspecting walkers actually stop, read and allow me to spend time focusing on them in a more specific way.

Now don't go calling 911 and reporting some nut out at the mall.

You see what I'm doing is praying for people. I don't know their names, where they come from, what they do with the rest of their life or if they even have a life outside of walking in the mall.

I'm not sure who's getting the most benefit out of this practice of "Prayer Target Practice" me of the ones my prayers are aimed at. But I know one thing for sure, my prayers never miss their target and I never run out of ammo.

Do you have a creative way that you pray for people? Click on "comments" below and tell me about it.

LEARNING TO REST IN THE LORD

You can't imagine how many years I have waited to "Rest In The Lord". I have done all kinds of things attempting to ease my nerves but only one thing works for me. Simply reading Gods Word.

Lately I've taken the time to just sit down and read from the Bible. Sometimes it's in regard to preparation for an upcoming sermon, sometimes it's trying to study while looking for some great answer from God, but most of the time it's just a way of saying "hello to God".

The more I read at one setting the more peaceful I get. It's like crawling up in the lap of God himself. I love it.

When I find myself facing troubles that I just can't seem to get control of, I go to the book, not just any book, but "THE book" the Bible. The greatest resource ever provided for mankind. I have spent a ton of money on lots of books but it's only the Bible that really provides help.

If you want to spend some money wisely? But a bible.

Yeahbutt"!

No this is not one of my usual typo's, I really did mean to spell it "yeahbutt" It is a take off of the words "Yeah But". It is one of the most common used word, words, or phrases in the language of almost every nation known to man. Some people call them excuse words. It's another way for people like me to not stay focused on what needs to be done.

You see every time I realize what I need to do, I come back with this "yeahbutt" excuse. One that I probably used more than any other, was really just some lame excuse about being afraid. Now fear is something that many of us live with. I can show you a picture of me in a football helmet with face mask waiting in line to be pounded on. This was during Marine Corps boot camp back in 1966. I remember saying to the Drill Instructor who had just announced that I was going to be second in line, "Yeah But Drill Instructor Sir...". He quickly jumped back in my face and barked, "Ill yeah but you, now get in there." for the rest of the week he called me "Yeahbutt Martin". I wasn't to thrilled with that name, especially since it pretty much stuck with me the rest of my fourteen weeks of boot camp.

Here I am years later, all grown up with years of experience behind me and I'm still a "yeahbutt". When God gives me directions and I don't want to do what I'm supposed to do, I catch myself saying, "Yeah but God. I'm afraid", or 'Yeah but God, I can't do that", or "Yeah but God, what if...?" My main problem is pretty simple, I'm not trusting God to come through for me. I'm not trusting God to hold me up when I'm about to fall, or for that matter pick me up when I actually do fall. I afraid of falling period.

I have discovered that there is a way to graduate out of "yeahbuttism". Begin to spend as much time as possible with God in just reading his word. Not necessarily studying, just meditating on the greatness of almighty God. Learning to fall in love with just being in His presence.
It really works, you should try it.......Don't let the devil turn into a "yeahbutt"

NEW APPROACH

Did you ever figure up what you spent just on things like Coffee, bottled water, pop, individual bags of chips? Try it some time it's pretty frightening.

Every day at the "Holy Grounds Cafe" I watch people doing their morning walk. Some of the painful expressions on their faces are due to the exercise but more than often these folks carry with them a lot of emotional baggage. My little coffe shop in the mall is a place for them to unload that baggage. A place where they can, if only from a brief moment feel the releif of being free of all the stuff that burdens them.

You see at the "Holy Grounds Cafe" we not only provide coffee, bottled water, pop and a snack but we also ask if we can pray with you. Most everyone welcomes our invitation. Our prayers are short and to the point. We don't use prayer as a time to capture them and preach. We use prayer as a simple communication with the only one who can really meet peoples needs.

If you ever find yourself in Topeka KS. go out to the White Lakes Mall at 37th & S. Topeka and on the east side of the complex you'll find a sign that says "Family Dispatch Church" and another signs that says C-1's Office. That's where we are located. come on in and enjoy the soft music and refreshment. If you don't mind we'll even pray with you.

Create Your Own Niche in the Middle of God's Calling

This blog has a pretty long title but it won't take long to describe what I mean. I have always been a person who believes in two things. (1). God has a calling or something specific that He wants you to do and you'll never be completely happy until you learn what it is and begin to do it. (2). Based upon your talents, gifts and abilities there is something that you can do as well or better than anyone else.

You must begin with trying to understand what God desires you to do. Watch and listen to see what He is already up to in your life and join Him in what He is doing. It's a lot easier than trying to do what "you" want to do and ask Him to join you. After all life isn't about you, it's all about God and His will for your life.

Once you discover what God is calling you to do, you then begin to look around you and see where you can best do it. If you are like me you may have to adopt an attitude that says, "If nobody loves you create the demand". Become what you believe other people really need but just don't realize they need it. If you remember the fence painting story in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer you'll probably get the idea. Make what you do so exciting that others will want to get in on it.

I love doing what I do because I know it's God's will for my life and it's my niche. It's where I belong. It's a place for me to do what God wants me to do.

Being Creative

Some of the most fun times in my life have been those times when the creative side of me came out. I actually don't know where it come from other than to say that God must have placed within someting that I haven't been aware.


The funny thing is, most people who see my art work aren't all that impressed either.

But you know what? It's good theropy for me, not that I need it, well maybe I do but for whatever reason I enjoy just letting something happen with the paint.

If you don't have some kind of creative outlet find one it feels really good.

"So What's the Catch?"

I have discovered something interesting, people are fearful of anything that is "Free".

I have a little coffee shop. I call it the "Holy Grounds Cafe" and it's in a mall where a lot of people come to walk everyday. I have a sign on the door that stands wide open. The sign says "FREE COFFEE, BOTTLED WATER, POP and HONEY BUNS". People nearly break their necks trying to read the sign and walk by at the same time. I hear them talking and say to one another,, "Free? I wonder what the catch is?" If they dare to come and check us out they will discover that the only catch is that they have to serve themselves.

People also have problems with their relationship with Jesus. They just can't imagine that they don't have to do something to pay for eternal life. the idea that someone else paid the price for their sins just doesn't seem to register. Americans live in a culture that is so caught up in making the almighty dollar that to get something for free just don't seem right.

I'm convinced that what Jesus did when he died for our sins indeed wasn't "right" but He did it anyway for me. And he did it for you as well.

WHAT ABOUT VISION?

Now I've been a minister for 39 years and I have heard a lot about "Vision". I've preached and talked even more about vision that I have heard. I have always gone with the idea that vision is all about the "church". You've probably read or at least heard the verse Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision the people perish". This was the verse that I hung so much of my belief on.

They say you are never to old to learn and I guess I'm living proof of it. Is it possible that this verse could also mean that when the individual has no vision he is doomed?

Now before you write me off as a some off the wall preacher dude read on.

As I see it, it's the church's job to give a vision to those who attend. The church is good about asking people to come "just as they are" but once they do it's then the churches responsibility to show them that God has a plan for them that goes beyond where they presently are.

The church is to see people through the eyes of God and see them not for what they "are" but for what "they can become". By doing this they will give them a vision of themselves that they have never seen.

So maybe the verse about people perishing if they have no vision is directed more to the individual than the church. I believe it's saying to the church that part of your job is to give people a vision of what God sees in them.

Of course the greatest vision that God has for any of us is that of being in His family. It's all about us coming from where we are to where God wants us to be. It's about us coming into a community (the church) and being directed into a personal relationship with Almighy God.

Todays question is: "What is your concept of "Vision" and how does it come into play with the church?

Click on "comments" below and tell me what you think?

WHAT MAKES A SAFE CHURCH?

I have been reading a book entitled "Risking Church" sub title: creating a place where your heart fels at home. I really like what I'm reading but it brings up some questions that I want to discuss. So for a couple of days I want to see what your opinion is.

Todays question is: What do you think of when you hear the term "Safe Church"?

For me it pretty much means a place where I can be me. A place where I don't need to play the game of "hide my feelings and pretend I'm doing okay". I'm a transparent kind of guy anyway, I don't mind people knowing whats going on in my life. I used to administer a 12 step program for recovering alcoholics and I always had a problem with the idea of being anonymous. My thinking was if I'm going to get help, I need as many people as possible to know about what's going on.

Anyway I would be interested in know what you think a "Safe Church" would look like. How should they respond to people? Do you think it's possible for a church to be a "safe Place"? How important is it to you? What would happen to the church as we know it if it became a "safe place"?

Click on "comments" below and talk to me.

TRY THIS ONE ON!

The other day I received an email from a friend that ended with the following statement:

"Don't ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you aren't willing to move your feet."

My friend didn't know about any issues I was dealing with so he couldn't have intended to give me any specific advice. Little did he know however that his quote drove home a point that would keep me up the next night.

Christians often make a big deal about "Standing Firm". But sometimes we stand so firm that when it "is" time for us to move we're frozen in place. God wants us to be flexible enough to be able to follow his leading. He wants us to expect to move when we ask for His guidance. He wants us to understand that "standing firm" prepares us for movement.

We need to be ready when He is.