Spreading the Good News

I get a few weekends off from preaching from the pulpit of a church. This weekend I'll be sharing the Good News by performing magic at First Baptist Springfield's Harvest Festival. I am looking forward to it.

I've been doing quite a bit more pulpit preaching this fall.
I like that. But I'm also glad that I still get to do the magic thing once in awhile.

Next weekend is open, the following weekend I'll be making a visit to Chicago and then it's back to preaching up until Christmas in December, with one weekend for a Christmas magic program.

I guess it is a good thing that I get the opportunity to share the simple message -- God loves you. Jesus died for you. -- from the pulpit, because I rarely interact with people on a daily basis. My pulpit message usually centers on all of us that are followers of Jesus being the ones to share this message. Being a follower of Jesus is supposed to be who we are, not what we do. Our actions, our words, how we live and treat others -- should reflect that we are a follower of Jesus.

Unfortunately, I am often a poor example of my own preaching. It troubles me that there are people that may judge Jesus by my poor behavior or my careless words. Maybe that's why I'd rather be alone and away from people. I realize that people tend to encourage Ugly John and life as a decent guy is easier in isolation. Sitting on my deck or riding on my motorcycle seems to be a great way to spent my day, but it doesn't do much in the area of following the commands of my Lord and Savior about making disciples and teaching what He taught us.

Maybe I could just write more often; teach by writing rather than actually having to interact with people. Something tells me that isn't what God has in mind -- at least, not for me. Sure, maybe I should write more often (and I probably should), but I don't think that exempts me from sharing with people as I encounter them and build relationships.
That just makes me sigh with the dread of having to interact with people.
Really not my thing, but I hear this in my head, "Practice what you preach, preacher."

Sigh

John <><