Peter’s sermon on Pentecost–does it tell us anything? How many relationships did he have there? What community was he building. DG, can we have a thread on community? My bias: I am curious why people think community is what Jesus is about. ANyway. Awesome stuff, thanks for all the ideas!

I am curious to know how many relationships we can have at that deep level. Malcolm Gladwell writes people have a limit of the amount of personal relationships they can have: 150.

Maybe she had questions about the book and wanted him to be able to respond. Just a thought.

I have several of those ongoing relationships and conversations going with people in places where I routinely go. One of them gave me a copy of The Shack. I didn’t assume they thought I needed to become a Christian.

If the relationships you are willing to form are honest, then they will handle it (mostly) if you offer Christ on Day 1. I have a guy who has been rejecting it for over two years.

Be open. I think the poor and marginalized particularly will accept it quickly. That’s where i think Joan’s comment is apt– different ways in different places with different people. I am well aware that I could probably not do much evangelism in a “regular” UM church…

I actually think it is a fascinating parable–may even wind its way into my book if you have no objection. This is kind of story that makes me think about the Babylonians or Judas and others that betrayed or harmed the chosen, yet were at some level doing the will of God. I look forward to following your posts and would love do an interview on your podcast. My email is joanpball@gmail.com if you want to catch up a little more directly.

Great connecting with you…
J

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my rarely updated blog, heh heh. I am excited about your book and can’t wait to read it someday and I would be honored to possibly interview you someday for the Praxis Podcast if your willing.

Your comment is of course one direction that the story could be taken. That God wanted the event to occur even if the sweet well intended woman had to take one for the team. But, one could just as well have said God can use our mistakes too.

I still think where the most effective discipleship occurred in the story was between him and his co-workers where relationship and community existed. I.e. The very things I am lifting up in the story I brought to the blog. Just as the community you have with your husband was in constant discussion with the community you had with those that were liked minded with you while you were not a disciple of Christ. And, then the challenge and complete transistion you have to live through with your relations and community.

And, while I can agree that maybe God desired for her to take one for the team I feel is it more important and more “effective” to promote being those in relationship with the guy that he trusts and discussed his chalenges, hopes, & dreams. Instead of forming no relationship and promoting very little or no sacrifice involved in side by side discipleship.

Again thanks so much for your comments! I can’t express my gratitude.

Again the typo disclosure goes for this post, as well.

I liken it to Wesly’s understanding of sanctification. While in some cases it can happen in this lifetime in certian lives (& maybe in some cultures/demographics a tract is all that it takes perhaps since the lives they are currently living have been so difficult and demanding that they are grasping at straws or Holy Spirit has been soaking them up with previenant grace so much so that a tract or Roman road (even if the texts are removed from the intended the narritive of the author) that they are willing to find and recognise hope even in a tract. And to this I join you and anyone in celebration of a life excited to be welcomed in relationship with the ultimate relationship of Trinity, but I still believe it is not the most effective for the burbs and middle class or postmonderns that are becoming greater and greater in the popular thinking and lived out lives in this world.

And I also believe that a conversion was never meant to be only in an individal person level. I know this does not describe you Aaron, so all too often Christians who use tracts expect the heavy living of discipleship to continue without interpersonal relations/community (in other words “the church”). Nothing I believe is more effoctive than relationship and discipleship! I believe that a tracts purpose is bring about conversion and that while a necessary step is only a small part of discipleship. I just believe in a postmodern mindset we must allow for relationships to encourage wresteling and questions and experience with God, Grace, forgiveness, etc…

And you know how much I love ya Aaron and in your faithfulness to our King I can find very few with the passion and love for God and others that I respect more than you! Thanks so much. I’m honored that you read this blog,

I appologise if there are typos or awkard grammar in this comment, I did the whole post with my phone

I just want to say, I agree completely that in order for us to be a witness, we need to be a part of the life of a person. Without relationship, we are talking at people, not with them.

Our church is successful when we engage with the marginalized. We create a community by hanging out with them, supplying some of their needs and just getting to know them.

I think that is what it means to be in the world, but not of it.

Great observation DG!