One of my neighbor friends was going to have a cardiac heart cath procedure done this week. That's where they check for coronary artery blockage and can choose to insert a stent to improve blood flow if necessary.
He and I have a running dialog about God in the general sense, but I gather that he has not invited Jesus into his heart as Savior (although I'm not sure). I've enjoyed our ongoing neighborly friendship and we ride bikes together during the summer months. We talk about the gamut of life's topics - sports, family, yard work. But I've stopped short of inviting him to consider a prayer of salvation. I always figure that might happen at some future time when he's curious, which is fine with me.
So when we chatted on the sidewalk this week before his procedure, things took a different perspective for me. Heart cath procedures are generally very safe (I work in the industry), but in the unlikely event that things go wrong, you may not see the person afterwards. So the immediacy of our conversation was not lost on me.
I won't share the specific conversation I had with my friend this week - but he's fine after the procedure, thank you Jesus.
For the next friend or family member, this situation did help me to boil down the essentials of salvation into two very simple phrases. I thought of these as the "walk-away" reminders for a friend or loved one with whom you've had conversations about God and His Son, but aren't sure you'll ever have another opportunity...
1. Tell God your sorry.
2. Tell Him you accept Jesus as your Savior.
"God, I'm sorry for my sins, and I accept Jesus as my Savior"
There's more to this conversation - realizing that God has always had a plan for our lives (Romans 5:1), and that we're saved because of His mercy, not our good deeds (Titus 3:4-5), and that Jesus chose to die for us on the cross, as a way to reconcile us with God (1Peter 2:21-25).
But if you're ever having to help someone who is facing the toughest moments of life:
Lost a job
Terribly sick
Lonely
Divorced
Addicted
Hopeless
In danger
Tired
Tell God your sorry for your sins. Tell Him you accept Jesus as your Savior.
If there is the blessing of another minute or hour or years in your life after that, then find me on the sidewalk and I'll tell you the rest. Or go to that church down the street and ask the pastor. And believe.
What do you believe?
Saturday, May 04, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Coarse words - anyone hear me?
I finished a phone call on my way home from work last week, clicked off and dropped the phone in my lap. More work! More deadlines! And right before the weekend.
I was also irritated because the car in front of me had been straggling along below the speed limit. Hurry up already!
Just before the stoplight he finally decided to speed up, make the amber, and leave me stuck waiting for the next light.
Expletive Deleted !
I uttered a coarse set of words without thinking.
But then I did think - had I really turned off my phone?!
Blushing bright as the red light, I reached down and picked up the phone to check.
It was off - and I was relieved - saved the embarrassment of somebody hearing me at a weak moment.
You know where this is going, right?
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
God heard me loud and clear - and my words would not have benefitted anyone who might have listened, let alone the creator of the universe. I had every reason to be embarrassed, phone or no phone.
There are too many things I let myself "get away with" in the course of some days simply because no one is there to hear or see my actions - or read my thoughts! But reading the bible helps to keep me honest, because I come across verses like Ephesians 4:29. And more often than I'd expect, a recently read verse will even help to pre-empt a traffic light moment (just not this time...).
"Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend." Proverbs 22:11
I believe I can do better. And I like having as a friend, the King of Kings.
What do you believe?
I was also irritated because the car in front of me had been straggling along below the speed limit. Hurry up already!
Just before the stoplight he finally decided to speed up, make the amber, and leave me stuck waiting for the next light.
Expletive Deleted !
I uttered a coarse set of words without thinking.
But then I did think - had I really turned off my phone?!
Blushing bright as the red light, I reached down and picked up the phone to check.
It was off - and I was relieved - saved the embarrassment of somebody hearing me at a weak moment.
You know where this is going, right?
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
God heard me loud and clear - and my words would not have benefitted anyone who might have listened, let alone the creator of the universe. I had every reason to be embarrassed, phone or no phone.
There are too many things I let myself "get away with" in the course of some days simply because no one is there to hear or see my actions - or read my thoughts! But reading the bible helps to keep me honest, because I come across verses like Ephesians 4:29. And more often than I'd expect, a recently read verse will even help to pre-empt a traffic light moment (just not this time...).
"Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend." Proverbs 22:11
I believe I can do better. And I like having as a friend, the King of Kings.
What do you believe?
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