"A Neat Encounter"

We just finished our Wednesday evening program at church- things are scaled back a bit due to it's being summer, but we still have Wednesday Night Dinner followed by a Bible study and prayer time. Normally the group of 20-30 folks is made up of pretty much the same people. That's not a bad thing... I'm just saying that most of the faces are familiar each week. Tonight, a 20-something young lady entered and sat down just as we were finishing dinner, and no one knew her. She happened to sit next to me, and I introduced myself ("Hi, I'm Chuck. What's your name?") She told me. I welcomed her and folks around our table all said hi. We made sure she got a glass of water and a slice of coconut cake.

We started our Bible study, and as a good discussion began, I heard an unfamiliar voice join in. It was the new young lady I'd just met. She contributed to the discussion several times over the next thirty minutes, at times somewhat passionate about the topic at hand. When everything was wrapping up, I had a chance to speak to her one-on-one. She's a busy person- full-time student with full-time job. I told her about our Sunday worship and Bible study, and invited her back to Wednesday evenings. I really hope she'll return.

But what impressed me the most was that she came all alone to a place she'd never been, to a setting which provided little if any anonymity, and she joined right in. I mean, it was like she was one of the family. I hear and read a lot today about "seeker sensitivity" in churches- how focused we must be on making things suitable for the guests who might come our way. Sometimes we give that so much attention that we might overlook the fact that the Holy Spirit is still at work in the hearts of people who are honestly seeking. And especially for those He brings our way, for those who are seeking a God-encounter, we just need to "be" the Body of Christ. I think that happened tonight, and it was a neat encounter to witness.

Google this!

At least once a week, I check the report statistics for our website (www.chuckandlari.com). I'm interested to know where the visitors come from, what they're viewing, and what they're downloading. Saw something the other day that was new to me- it showed searches people had used to find the site. Thought that was interesting. Fact is, using some of their search phrases, it's a miracle they even found us!

It reminded me that often we have no idea what people are looking for when their path crosses ours. The smile on their face might not indicate the brokenness in their heart. Their gruff manner may reveal no clue of their desperate search for a loving relationship. Their seemingly arrogant confidence may offer no hint of the uncertainty that plagues them. They're looking -we're all looking- for something. Sometimes, we're just the only one who even has a clue what we're looking for.

As a pastor, it's easy to become driven to address the needs of the "seekers" who come your way. But just as with my web page, I never really truly know exactly what search has brought them to us. So rather than flip-flop back and force trying to address something I can't even define, I try my best to offer a consistent, balanced diet of what I believe God would have us know- that He made us, He loves us, and He's on a mission to get us straying sheep back into His fold. If someone comes one week, they may hear a message heavy on the loving part. Another week what they would hear might stress the restoration part. But show up regularly, and you'll hear the entire message presented many different ways.

Be yourself. Be real. Be consistent. And be ready to help whoever God brings across your path.