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| "Mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days.. (2 Timothy 3:1 NIV) |
"Mother, mother,
there's too many of you crying.
Brother, brother, brother,
there's far too many of you dying.
You know we've got to find a way.
to bring some loving here today,
What's Going on?"
(Song by Marvin Gaye -What's Going On? Lyrics by:
Alfred Cleveland, Marvin Gaye, Renaldo Benson)
Never has this song been more relevant than it is today! I'm not just talking about the general chaos in the political arena, but in the world at large. Every morning it seems there's a new level of ethical dysfunction we have to deal with. Hurricanes of historic proportion have been pounding our shores. Wildfires are occurring in unusual places like the one this year north of the Arctic circle. California continues to burn (approximately 6,906 this year and counting) causing the Northern portion of the state to be declared a national disaster. And let's not even talk about the rise in violence and murder in every major city!
If you have any doubt that we're living in the last days, all I have to say is just open your eyes!
Here's how the Amplified Bible translates 2 Timothy 3:1
In eschatology (the study of last things and end of time for humans), the Last Days chronicles the time period beginning with Jesus Christ's resurrection and ends at His Second Coming!
How easy it would be to just shake our heads and bemoan these tragedies, but instead of tearing our hair out why not use these now frequent occurrences as spiritual opportunities. Professional Spin doctors are skilled in turning bad news into good. As Christians, there's no better news to share than what we have...God's Word. Here's an excerpt from an article published on Christianity Today's website in 2005. I came across it in my files and because it is Family and Friends Month at my church decided to pass it along to you. Read it prayerfully and be discerning as to when to introduce these thought provoking questions. Feel free to adapt it to fit your individual conversation's focal point. With things the way they are, it is only a matter of time before someone asks you: What's going on this world today?
20 Questions to Help You Share Your Faith
(Transitions you can use to turn a conversation to spiritual things by Worldwide Challenge.
Worldwide Challenge.org
1. People invest time and energy into developing their career, their bodies and relationships, but often neglect the spiritual dimension of their lives. How do you actively pursue spiritual growth?
2. Do you think much about spiritual things? (This usually leads to conversations about what spiritual means, i.e., religion vs. relationship).
3. How has this experience affected the way you look at God?
4. We've never had a chance to talk about your religious background. Where would you say you are in your spiritual pilgrimage?
5. I'd like to tell you how I established a personal relationship with God (Tell your personal testimony)
6. What is your concept of God? Do you view Him positively or negatively?
7. Have you come to a point in your life where you have trusted Jesus as your personal Savior or do you think that is something you're still moving toward?
8. Do you find that faith and spiritual values play a role in your work, marriage, perspective on life?
9. Do you go church? Why or why not?
10. We've been friends for quite some time now, and I've never really talked to you about the most important thing in my life. May I take a few moments and do so?
**I've only given you ten of the twenty. To learn more go to the following website: https://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/articles/evangelism/051012.html
UNTIL NEXT TIME...
If you would like to leave a comment please send an email to: sisters4sisters@att.net OR scroll to the bottom of my blog page at http://alittlewiser63.blogspot.com click on the no comments by the pencil and it will change to a writing space.
If you have any doubt that we're living in the last days, all I have to say is just open your eyes!
Here's how the Amplified Bible translates 2 Timothy 3:1
"But understand this, that in the last days there
will set in perilous times of great stress and
trouble - hard to deal with and hard to bear."
How easy it would be to just shake our heads and bemoan these tragedies, but instead of tearing our hair out why not use these now frequent occurrences as spiritual opportunities. Professional Spin doctors are skilled in turning bad news into good. As Christians, there's no better news to share than what we have...God's Word. Here's an excerpt from an article published on Christianity Today's website in 2005. I came across it in my files and because it is Family and Friends Month at my church decided to pass it along to you. Read it prayerfully and be discerning as to when to introduce these thought provoking questions. Feel free to adapt it to fit your individual conversation's focal point. With things the way they are, it is only a matter of time before someone asks you: What's going on this world today?
20 Questions to Help You Share Your Faith
(Transitions you can use to turn a conversation to spiritual things by Worldwide Challenge.
Worldwide Challenge.org
1. People invest time and energy into developing their career, their bodies and relationships, but often neglect the spiritual dimension of their lives. How do you actively pursue spiritual growth?
2. Do you think much about spiritual things? (This usually leads to conversations about what spiritual means, i.e., religion vs. relationship).
3. How has this experience affected the way you look at God?
4. We've never had a chance to talk about your religious background. Where would you say you are in your spiritual pilgrimage?
5. I'd like to tell you how I established a personal relationship with God (Tell your personal testimony)
6. What is your concept of God? Do you view Him positively or negatively?
7. Have you come to a point in your life where you have trusted Jesus as your personal Savior or do you think that is something you're still moving toward?
8. Do you find that faith and spiritual values play a role in your work, marriage, perspective on life?
9. Do you go church? Why or why not?
10. We've been friends for quite some time now, and I've never really talked to you about the most important thing in my life. May I take a few moments and do so?
**I've only given you ten of the twenty. To learn more go to the following website: https://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/articles/evangelism/051012.html
UNTIL NEXT TIME...
If you would like to leave a comment please send an email to: sisters4sisters@att.net OR scroll to the bottom of my blog page at http://alittlewiser63.blogspot.com click on the no comments by the pencil and it will change to a writing space.
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