Nine keys to evangelism that's faithful to the Truth as well as winsome and glad

9 keys to Biblical Evangelism.

1. Pray for and love the people to whom you bring the Gospel.
2. Strive to reflect the nature and truth of God in your life and character. 2Cor 3:2 "Living Epistles"
   
3. Ask God for wisdom. (The one who wins souls is wise.) Heb 11:35
4. Present the law of God.
   
5. Sow the word of God, esp. the Cross, atonement.
6. Be a vessel of the HS.
7. Move your audience into a place of doubt concerning the way they are living their lives. 2Co 10:5.
8. Help them to acknowledge the truth that God has already placed in their hearts, but they are supressing (Jack in the box).
9. Challenge them to repent and believe the Gospel.

The results are always up to God.

From Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism, by The Apologetics Group.
http://theapologeticsgroup.com/

The Secret Prayer Life

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." [Matthew 6:6]

How is it that as a Christian I was always taught to pray openly, publicly, with as much grandeur and eloquence as possible? instead of as Jesus taught? How did I miss this? Maybe the better question is WHY did I ignore it? The answer: Because secret worship and prayer and fasting, etc., is rewardless. We are geared to "show what we have done", to make constant reports at work on our achievements and progress, to hone our résumés until we appear supernaturally gifted and herculean hard-workers.

But Jesus doesn't self-advertise. And in spiritual matters, nor should we. Jesus prayed mostly in private, sometimes with his disciples nearby. His life was immensely blessed and every prayer answered. But his public prayers were extremely short. Yet God answered them immediately. Until now I had the idea that, if we want to glorify God, we must pray openly and especially pray in Jesus' name. Then others will hear this prayer and see it answered and recognize the hand of God. I still believe this.

But there is another side to prayer that I totally missed: That we must be continually in secret prayer, as Jesus teaches here and as Paul stresses in 1st Thessalonians 5:17. The fact that we pray in secret generally known, but it is known our Father, "who sees what is done in secret." What is the result? I believe those who have a regular time of secret prayer have a relationship with the Lord that is strong. If that means God answers our prayers, it is because we come to really know His will and pray in accordance with His will.

Lord, why did I miss this? Please renew my desire and the urging of the Spirit in me to prayer. Help me, Lord, an unspiritual oaf, to become a regular before your throne, to be with you always, with all the free time I have, for the glory of your Son Jesus. IJNA

Writing my senators about healthcare reform bill

I'm writing Jim Webb and Mark Warner today, asking them to promise me they will fully read and understand the bills they vote on before casting any vote, particularly in regards to healthcare reform. The letter is as follows:

Dear Senator Warner:

I am writing to strongly urge your VOTE AGAINST the HEALTHCARE REFORM bill. I am not a Republican, nor a Democrat, but feel both major parties have done irreparable damage by bloating our Federal Government FAR beyond the mandates of The Constitution. Now is the time for the Federal Government to DO NOTHING, or at least, in keeping with the Hippocratic Oath, “Do no damage.” Doing nothing must go against every grain to modern politicians. But for a free market to work, government must TRUST businesses and consumers to work out what is fair, and simply make laws that protect all people.

Instead, good sir, please press for healthcare reform that is enacted piecemeal, bit by bit. You will find much greater support for ONE THING AT A TIME, e.g. tort reform, individual to tax deductions for insurance costs, or Federal subsidies for hospital emergency rooms. Some of us voters really believe that a grandiose “reform” that is necessary NOW and ALL AT ONCE is merely an attempt by someone to create a personal legacy: "I gave America it's healthcare system." This is far too big for one person, however great or noble. Even "WE did it" is social self-idolatry. No one will thank those who claim such glory after the new system fails.

Without even reading the current reform bill, let alone understanding it, voting for it is criminally irresponsible. You can be sure it will only lead to a boon for lawyers and swindlers. All the loopholes will be found by those who DO read it, and they will read it most assuredly with a PROFIT MOTIVE. Future generations will condemn this congress as the Most Irresponsible Generation for such loopholes and the resulting boondoggles. You can either vote against it, if there isn’t time to really understand it, or make sure personally that it does not have such loopholes… by reading it.

You spoke recently (to Dr. Nancy) of the Bad Things that will happen “if we don’t do something about healthcare”. But we ALL know—from experience—about the unintended consequences when the government does get involved in something. Even your own comments concluded with glowing remarks about what private companies are doing to reform healthcare. Obviously, then, the free market works well when it is allowed to work freely.

At any rate, please promise that you will NOT VOTE until you have fully read and understood the entire healthcare reform bill. This, at least, is your duty.