Riding the Bus!

I had a cool experience today. I rode a bus. Now on the surface, that doesn’t sound all that exciting. But this bus ride was cool. I have a good friend through our ministry at East Liberty who works for the Port Authority. He drives a bus route for people in East Liberty every day. We have been very busy promoting our new breakfast ministry at our church. Cayenne (the bus driver…cool name) has given me permission to sit on the bus during his route, pass out invitations and talk to people. It is amazing what you come in contact with on a bus. It is a cross-section of society. Everything from the homeless guy, who can’t find his bus pass to the business person heading home from work.

I met a lot of people, passed out a lot of invites, and had the opportunity to pray with one lady. What did I learn? people will talk with you if you approach them. People will talk with you if you listen. if you ask questions, people will answer.

I also learned that people are looking for something. They are looking for what is different, what interrupts the routine. Some people are just glad to be noticed. You could see people getting on the bus with heavy burdens. Getting people to smile is sometimes a challenge. If you want a heart for people, for a city, for an area…spend time with the people.

Happy New Year

How can I have a happy new year?

Everyone has a theory on how to have a great year. Right now people are talking about resolutions, changes, starting over. All of these are good, but here are a few thoughts for you as you begin a new year, a new decade.

1. Only God brings change...If you want a resolution, make the best resolution possible...get your relationship with God back on track. If you haven't talked to God recently, spend some time doing that today.
2. Don't try to do a bunch of new things...master the things you are supposed to do. Setting new goals within your life, your family, your work, your small group, your ministry will be a lot easier to maintain than a list of impossibles.
3. Fix relationships...making sure there is no static in the important areas of your life will energize you in other areas. It is a very interesting idea to know the connection between your goals and your relationships. Many people wonder why the diet doesn't work, the promotion never happens, the stuff never changes. My first question is this...how are the key relationships in your life right now?
4. Read God's word daily. If this isn't a daily thing fix it today. If you don't do a regular SOAP make it your goal to begin that today. I also do a podcast called the Daily Audio Bible. It is good for people like me who are audio learners. See the links to the right.
5. Connect to a small group. If you haven't gotten involved with small groups yet, make this a priority. It is going to help you grow and give you the support you need to reach out to those around you.