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It’s a super quick read about learning to let go of the ”do-it-yourself” mindset, getting out of the way, and letting God work.
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Not an easy task, especially for a guy like me, but the end result was more than I could’ve ever imagined.
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I love to write. It gives me time to gather my thoughts, edit, re-edit, re-edit, re-edit, post, re-edit, re-edit, re-edit, lather, rinse, repeat. Writing allows me to put out exactly what I want to say, and has this awesome button – DEL, which saves you & me from the other stuff.
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But for me, the greatest thing of all about writing is – It’s not talking.
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I am an introvert, which means I have some comfort zone issues when it comes to social interactions. It’s not that I don’t like people, because I do, but for me, words don’t come easily in a verbal setting. They flow like the Nile when I’m on the keyboard but around people, not so much, and that tends to make things a little awkward for me.
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Sometimes I’ll just say stuff and later, when I’m analyzing, I’ll agonize, “Why did I say that?!?” And sometimes I can’t think of anything at all to say. My brain may be full of wonderful information on whatever the subject matter may be, but it refuses to work with my mouth so I kind of just stand there. Meanwhile, subconsciously, my brain is going into Jason Bourne mode – notating the nearest exits and calculating how many guards I’ll have to take out to make my escape. Social interactions can be uncomfortable for me, so in the past, I’ve just tried to steer clear of them.
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Need somebody to hold up the wall at your party? I’m your man.
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A place where you feel most comfortable - What is by myself? I’ll take World Geography for $400 please Alex.
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A kick to the shins or dinner with people I don’t know? How hard a kick? Pretty hard. Cowboy boot? Yes. Dominate foot? Yes. How many kicks? Just one. Are we talking Beckham here or just some guy? Just some guy. Can I pick the shin? Yes. Do I have to roll up my pant leg? Yes. Okay, let’s go with my right shin.
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Just keepin’ it real folks. My introversion runs deep and over the years I’ve learned to embrace it.
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But that was much easier to do before I became a Christian.
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Because when you become a Christian you read stuff like, as Christians we are “Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”” – 2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT
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Great scripture but I’m guessing that’s geared more toward those outgoing Christians. The ones God gave the spiritual gift of gab to. That’s certainly not my gift so it doesn’t really apply to me. Flimsy excuse? You bet. Have I used it? Used it? I’ve worn it out.
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But then there’s Matthew 5:14-15 – Scripture with a built-in introvert clause.
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As Christians we are called to be “….the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” – Matthew 5:14-15 NLT
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Did you catch the introvert clause in there?
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It could’ve easily have said, “You are the light of the world, giving light to everyone in the house.” But instead it addressed the introverts, also known as “Under a basket hiders.”
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What’s an introvert supposed to do with that?
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I’ll tell you what I did.
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I started UnlikelyChristian.com, which is located smack dab in the middle of my comfort zone.
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Is this website what Paul had in mind in 2 Corinthians 5:20?
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Well, I’ve received some wonderful feedback and……
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Is this website what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:14-15?
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Well, He made me this way. He knows I’m an introvert so He’s…..
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Is this website……..Okay, okay, probably not. I think it’s part of my light, but the truth is, I know Jesus wants me to get out of my comfort zone.
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Actually I’ve known this for quite some time but Jesus is meeting a little resistance here because I don’t wanna get out of my comfort zone because, it’s like so comfortable and stuff. I’m talking reclining, massaging, oversized, leather comfy.
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But Jesus, being Jesus, doesn’t give up. He’s been nudging me for awhile to put myself out there more and He’s been dangling opportunities in front of me. I’ve been letting these opportunities go by the wayside by either waiting too long or ignoring all together. I’m not proud of that, but that’s been the easy thing to do.
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Lately I’ve really been feeling it though, so I decided to go ahead and give it a shot.
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And just like that, opportunity knocks again. And just like that, I look out the peephole…..Yeah, I’m not going to answer today. Maybe next time Jesus.
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“You have mail.” Yeah……that might be kind of cool and all, but I’ll just go ahead and let that e-mail sit in my inbox for a few days until it’s covered up by several others so much so that I can’t see it anymore and forget about it although I don’t really forget about it but out of sight out of mind is what I’m going with here hey don’t judge me.
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Repeat, repeat, repeat.
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But then I get an e-mail from my church. The church I know God picked for me. “Hey Bill…. you are just the kind of guy we would love to have as a discussion leader for our Men’s Study”
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I so gotta do this.
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So I’m gonna.
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And I start next week.
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I’m looking forward to seeing where God takes me.
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Stay tuned.
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So this book - 7 by Jen Hatmaker.
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I’ve been hearing a lot about it and so I decided that I wanted to read it.
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And then I came to my senses and changed my mind because this book has dangerous potential, as in it might provoke me into action.
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I liken it to praying for patience. You know if you do that, God will be more than happy to help you grow your patience by giving you multiple daily opportunities to workout that patience muscle. I’ve heard it said, “Tired of God not answering your prayers? Pray for patience and humility.”
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Been there, done that, not in a hurry to do it again. Seriously, sometimes I catch myself and I stop dead in my tracks just seconds before asking for patience, “Whew, that was a close one!” I may have even told God, “Nevermind, nevermind, nevermind!” before.
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Look, I’m sure this is a great book and all but my mind’s made up. I’m not going to read it, not now anyway. I’m sure I will one day, later on down the road, but as for now, I’m not going to give it a second thought.
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Except…….guess what my neighbor just brought over and my wife is reading on the couch right now?
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Well, it’s in the house now. This is not good man, not good at all.
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Church report cards come out pretty soon and I think I’m in trouble.
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Right now I’m doing well in – Show up every Sunday 101, Fellowship before and/or after service 202, Monetary Giving I & Volunteering II. I’m passing – Invite Somebody to Church 201 & Volunteer for special events 201 and I’m expecting some extra credit for having the church decal on my car, tweeting things my pastor says, and singing along in worship (not just mouthing, actually singing). Even with all that, I’m not sure it’s going to help because I’m failing the most important course – Leading others to Christ 101. And if I don’t pass that, then I won’t earn the coveted jacket that all Christian men like to wear #ItHasElbowPatches.
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Obviously there are no such things as church report cards, although before I became a Christian, I used to wonder why religious nuts were always trying so hard to convert me. It seriously felt like they had a quota they were trying to reach or something. If not for a grade then at the very least, I figured there must be a nice walnut plaque involved.
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So………..how many people have you led to Christ?
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Me?
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Zero……that I know of.
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It’s true that I’ve never had one of those ‘after school special’ TV moments, where somebody comes to me hurting or with a bagful of junk so we talk for hours and I tell them about God, my faith etc….and it ends with me leading them in a prayer that changes their lives forever.
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And that’s okay.
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I think some Christians would disagree with that statement of it being okay that in my 4 years of being a Christian, I’ve never led somebody through a salvation prayer, but I disagree.
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You know who lovingly led me to Christ?
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Christ did.
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And you know how He chose to do it?
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Through a little bit of this gal, some of this guy, a dash of that guy, a tablespoon of that person etc….
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No one person took my hand and led me to the altar, but many people, in their own different ways, played a part in pointing me there. I’m convinced God used many so no one person could boast, because bringing me to Christ was the equivalent to 12 eagles on the golf course. Now I’ve never gotten a single eagle in my life but if I ever do, you know who will know about it? EVERYBODY I know and ever will know, meet, pass by etc…. 
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Do all the people who are responsible for me being where I am now even know they played a part?
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Not all of them do. Several of them are authors that I’ve never met. At least one, Norman Vincent Peale, passed on 18 years ago. Others, I never really came right out and told. And what about those responsible for leading them? They played a small part in leading me, right? And what about those responsible for leading the people who led the people who helped lead me?
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I think as Christians we need to be super cognizant of that. We have opportunities everyday to be way finders for the lost and a light to help them see, but that might not necessarily mean okay, it’s time to break out the “Sinner’s Prayer.” It may just mean, being there for them, loving them, listening to them, praying with/for them, showing them (actions are strong) etc….
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And just because we’ve never led somebody directly to Christ doesn’t mean that we haven’t played or aren’t currently playing our part in leading others there. We might be a small piece in a big puzzle, but every piece is important right? That’s why you don’t buy puzzles at yard sales. The truth is, you may be helping more than you’ll ever know, so keep on keeping on.
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God’s conducting this orchestra. You just keep doing you’re part and He’ll handle the rest.
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And as kind of a side note, if somebody played a small part in you being where you are today, reach out to them and let them know.
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Especially if it’s me, because I so want this jacket 
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I came across an interesting website the other day. It was kind of a “next steps” for the new Christian site, now that you’re a Christian etc… Which I think can be a good thing, but this one really left me scratching my head.
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Their advice for new Christians is to go ONLY to a church that teaches using ONLY The King James Bible of 1611, as it’s the only and final authority. They then go on to say, “Good luck finding one” and start talking about cults.
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After reading that, I was all like, “Say what?” I mean, isn’t that severely limiting God?
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I’m not saying that the 1611 KJV isn’t a good Bible, that’s not what this is about. This is about their statement which limits God to pages of a single book, even if it is a Bible.
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God is not limited!
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He spoke to somebody through a donkey once – Numbers 22:28, so I’m pretty sure He can handle reaching us through other, easier to read, versions of His word.
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The Bible clearly states, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” – Matthew 18:20 NLT
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What does the 1611 King James Version say?
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“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” – KJV 1611
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Hmm…..sounds like the exact same thing and I checked verse 21 and it doesn’t say, “But I’ll only stay if you use the 1611 KJV.”
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The church that God handpicked for me to go to uses the NLT and I can assure you that God is most certainly there. Lives are being transformed, hurts are being healed etc…. God is moving in there. No doubt about it.
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That’s because when it comes to God, it’s all about the relationship.
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Don’t let yourself get caught up in rules, regulations, legalism etc… The Pharisees did just that, and all versions of The Bible make it pretty clear how Jesus felt about them. For those of you who may not know, umm…..He wasn’t a fan, to say the least.
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Don’t get caught up in religion.
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Get caught up in God.
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The awesome & UNLIMITED God.
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You know, the one NOT limited to a single version of a book.
