Visit

In the late hours of yesterday morning, I was working out in my garage.  A black car pulled up and two people, a man and a woman, exited the car and went up to the door of my neighbor.  I knew no one was home.  Within minutes they were walking up my driveway.  I felt a tension, even an anger, in my chest.  I could see their big leather bound Bibles.  I, in my indignation, assumed I could perceive their self-righteous condemnation.  I was right about them coming to tell me about Jesus, and again I was right when I guessed they were Jehovah's Witnesses.

I have developed my distrust of the Jehovah's Witnesses over time and personal experience.  I have had them come selling curb painting only to then come back dressed in their Sunday best to win me over to their way.  On more than one encounter, I have said, "I am a United Methodist Pastor.  I am not interested in converting," only to have them then want to tell me how Methodists are wrong, or how they are right.

Now, I have to be honest, I have gone door-to-door trying to tell being about a church.  So, why is it that I am so insensitive to them trying to do the same thing?  Mostly, I think it is about the willingness to listen.  And having knocked on about 1,500 doors personally, I can tell you it is basically ineffective as a tool of evangelism.  Jesus did not come and knock impersonally on doors.  Jesus came to be in relationship with people.  Jesus came to change lives.  Jesus came that we might know God and know God personally and intimately. 

I hope the next time I get a visit, I am a little less tense and much less angry.  I hope the next time, I can see that Jesus has just come to my door.  I hope I will greet him much more kindly, for if I were to be judged on one visit yesterday morning, "I saw him thirsty and did not offer him a drink.  I saw him a stranger and I was rude to him." 

Did I mention that I was carving props for Vacation Bible School? 

Running II

Ok, so this weekend I turned 37 years old. That is not a big deal really. Beyond turning the dial on my years, I also did something I have never done before on that same day. I ran eleven miles. I know it is crazy, and I have been trying to keep quiet about it most the summer. Somehow, slowly, people have heard that I am training to run a half marathon, (13.1 miles for those of you playing along at home) on November 16 in San Antonio, Texas.

I will give some answers the frequently asked questions.
+ No, I am not fast. I average around a 12 minute mile.
+ No, I have not lost any weight. Well, I guess since May I have lost about two and a half pounds.
+ No, I was not a runner in school. Previous to this summer, the farthest I had even run without walking was no more than a mile. I had run/walked several 5k’s with Tammy and Austin.
+ I have not yet enjoyed the “runner’s high.”
+ No, I don’t feel better. I feel tired, sore, grumpy, and emotional most of the time.

I am doing it because one person brought up a training program to me several times and invited me to an informational meeting. Vance Bates simply invited me to try it. Me, a guy who doesn’t run, doesn’t believe in running, doesn’t particularly like running, and by no means has any natural ability in running long distances, was invited to be a part of a running club. I still blame him when I crawl out of bed at 5:00 in the morning to go on a run in the neighborhood, or when I am grinding out mile nine of eleven with the group.

There is a moral to this story. Vance invited me to be a part of something important in his life. He invited me three or four times and said, “Come just see what it is about with no obligation or pressure.” You too can invite others to be a part of something important in your lives. You might have to make that invitation more than once to be heard. What you share might change someone’s life.