Making the world a little smaller

When I write about connecting with people, speaking to them about God, in my various travels and adventures, readers always respond, wanting more. The reason?  It makes the world seem a little smaller, and a little gooder too. 

So, why do I not confine myself to these kinds of stories rather than travelling through the books of the Bible—currently Matthew—and in a tough part, I might add, discussing fasting, temptation, and what it all means?  The truth is that I could have made the Do You See What I See? briefing, http://pastorwoman.com/ReadArchive.aspx?id=1488, twice as long, with stories such as this one:  As I was travelling from west to east, flights were changed several times en route; consequently, my bags did not make it to New York when I did.  Nor did the airlines make good on their promise to deliver the luggage to my Soho hotel before midnight.  Sleeping in my clothes, not brushing my teeth, etc., was not the way I had envisioned starting off an important trip to the Big Apple. 

By daylight, I was ready for some coffee, strong coffee, and a trip down to the front desk to see if my gear had arrived.  Near the small lobby’s coffee station was a fella consulting a map, talking to his traveling mate in a great European accent.  Unconcerned by my disheveled appearance, I struck up a conversation just the same: ‘First time to New York?’ I asked.  ‘First time to sightsee—we are going to the Islanders’ game tonight’ (hockey)—‘excited.’

‘Where is home for you?’ I asked.  ‘Switzerland,’ he said. (Pictures of snow-peaked alps danced in my head, because that is really all I know about Switzerland in my ignorance.) ‘And you?’ he politely asked.  ‘What brings you to New York?’  I looked him in the eye and thought, Is he ready for this?  Probably not.  Oh well, here goes.  ‘Well, you see, I am a corporate pastor and I write Bible studies and send them out daily ... to 127 countries.’  He tried to absorb that for a minute, with furrowed eyebrows.  ‘On this trip, I am meeting up with a publicist who is going to share my ventures with the world—or with someone of influence who will listen, and put my story on the air, so to speak.’  [The goal is to promote a message that there is both desire for God and room for God in the corporate boardrooms across our land, as well as a longing within the hearts of men, women and teens for the purpose and contentment that can only be found in God!  In obedience, I am willing to be the mouthpiece.  Morning Briefings, my recently published book on Philippians and Colossians, is also being promoted.  Pray for the venture, won’t you?  Tis a costly one—in several ways.]  So what was my new Swiss friend’s response?   ‘Fascinating!’ he said, ‘I’ve never heard of anything like that.’ 

Having the floor, I continued, ‘You know, most people want God … and if they have any native intelligence, they know that in order to get more of God, they need to look into the Bible, but----they have had it with Church, or as they so commonly say, ‘organized religion’.  My emails, ‘morning briefings’, make God, his Word, and inspirational application accessible to them, as they come written and via podcast, right to their computers or I phones.’  This time his response was ‘Fantastic!  Most of Europe has abandoned church, you know, wanting nothing to do with God.’  ‘Yes, I am well aware of that, both from travel and studying.’ 

But you see that is just the point.  If I only wrote about my conversational, relational adventures with folks, I would be remiss, depriving people of knowledge about their Maker, his wondrous ways, and his plans for them, all revealed in the pages of his words to us.  Anecdotal (though true) stories are great because they make the world a little smaller, and perhaps encourage all of us that folks want an opening to talk about God.  But—these briefings also must be anchored on the never-changing truth of God’s wondrous words for all of us.  And so, we will continue delving into the scripture, while also enjoying people, beautiful holidays and the wondrous world in which we walk around, and often miss because we are consumed with our own lives.  I love you each, I love you all—Omar, ‘Brooklyn’, Swiss man, Ben Keys, Bill Deyo, Nancy H., Tayo Adeyemi, Tessa, Cay, Chigutsa and Raquel.

p.s.  It is that time of year when folks sometimes want to make donations before the calendar year closes, and I humbly ask for yours to Pastorwoman Corp., a 501 c-3, because these briefings literally reach thousands of people worldwide.  You can go to www.pastorwoman.com and access PayPal or send your envelope to P.O. Box 1195, San Clemente, 92674.  Count me grateful—100% of the giving goes to the ministry.

 Christine

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