Gumption and Prayer!

The church I attend, Madison Campus, has been experiencing some very encouraging changes! Our new pastor has been emphasizing church fundamentals, has started a new "Teach Us To Pray" series and is emphasizing evangelism. To that I say HALLELUJAH!

Like many, I start my day with personal prayer and strongly appreciate the pastor's prayer challenge. I have accepted his challenge and have made a special effort to pray 'all day'. Don't get me wrong, it's not a continual mumbo-jumbo. It is a mind-set; a continual 'feed' and very specific. After all, the Bible tells us to "pray without ceasing." During my devotional prayer, I  ask... "Lord if I can help someone today, please send them my way." (Poetic huh?!)

The pastor also wrote some very encouraging words in a recent church-bulletin column. He said, "...maybe God is opening your [our] eyes to a more fulfilling prayer life."  I am convinced God is doing exactly that to all who are willing to pray. Recently, I was reminded that, as simple as it sounds, prayers ARE ANSWERED and that prayer warriors ARE NEEDED.

Last week, after completing a few errands with my wife, it was time for lunch! We decided on a restaurant (name withheld) that we hadn't visited in several months. As I entered, I prayed again,  "Lord if I can help someone today, please send them my way."

We entered, we were greeted, seated and provided menus. The waiter seemed a bit hurried but quickly brought us water. After some brief niceties he asked if we were ready to order. We weren't, so he scooted through the swinging kitchen doors. When he returned, my wife and I made our selections and we asked that the cheese and sour cream be omitted. "No problem." he said. "Will there be anything else?"  "No, that's it. Thanks." Suddenly the waiter's hurried demeanor seemed to melt away and he asked, "Excuse me but I noticed that besides omitting a couple of items, you both ordered vegetarian entrees. Are you Seventh-day Adventist?"

WOW!, I thought! That's quite a leap! Just because we exclude some items from our diet and are vegetarian (I'm attempting veganism), it doesn't mean that a person is Seventh-day Adventist. I know that, and you know that. In fact, I found his comment VERY surprising! I also felt that perhaps it wasn't any of his business. (My human nature often rise-eth within me!)

I said,  "Yes, we are. We attend the Madison Campus SDA church."

"Oh, I know where that is. I use to attend that church. I went to the elementary school and I also went to the academy. Well, I didn't graduate from there but I did attend. As soon as you ordered, I THOUGHT you were Adventist!"

He asked if we had kids and we determined that he knew them. "My sister works here too," he said. He called her over to our table and she chatted at length as well. (The restaurant wasn't as busy. We ate a late lunch.) They both revealed some VERY personal things about themselves, their hopes, aspirations, regrets and successes.

So there you have it, the variable of: 'Associative Adventism'. He knew of Adventism, we ordered like Adventists, 'quacked' like Adventists, we must be Adventists! Maybe a better coinage is: Familiarity breeds an AH-HA! factor!

Suddenly, I felt strongly compelled to ask both of them to come back to church. This is a big change for me. Although I believe people should go to church, asking someone to actually go to church is something I don't do. Well, lately I HAVE been asking but it takes some ....gumption and......prayer.. It scares me to ask. I use to be frightened. Now I'm frightened NOT to ask. I believe a strengthened prayer life has encouraged my new behavior.

"Have you considered coming back to church?", I said. "We have two services. Listen, there are a lot of things happening in this world. It's a crazy place. You NEED to come back to church!" I even pointed my finger at him. I couldn't seem to stop talking. I've seen other people do the same and it concerned me; even embarrassed me, now I hardly think anything about it.

"Yes, I know, I know", he said. "I do want to return. I actually get Friday night and Saturday off! I told my boss I'm Adventist." The waiter smiles, laughs and under his breath says, "It actually works out real well!.....  I am going to return."

Remember, I prayed that I would be able to "Help somebody in my path" and suddenly, during lunch, two people were standing at our table waiting/wanting/asking to be invited to church!

Like our pastor, I ask you to pray. People are SEARCHING for a connection. People are WANTING to come home. Still others are SEEKING for a home. If YOU have found a 'home', ask someone to come to it. If you haven't found a church-home, come to Madison Campus!

Be bold! Be brave! People are making some SERIOUS decisions; be a positive part of it!!! ~PRAY! /\