I was talking to a family this past week, and we were having a good time together. Well, I guess I got a little too comfortable because the humor started getting a little off color. It wasn't completely inappropriate but nonetheless, the family was a little surprised.

Here's my point. We come from different backgrounds and subcultures that have their normalicies. The story I was talking about would have been perfectly acceptable at school in mixed company. What I failed to realize was that I wasn't at school, the company was diversified in age, and what college students find as funny isn't what a mom or 10yr old find funny.

All I'm trying to say is think before you speak. I know I have a harder time with that than a lot of people, but I think anyone can fall into the same mistake I did. Just be conscious of your surroundings and make sure you're not just thinking about what's appropriate for you, but more importantly what the others around you consider appropriate.

As kids we've always been told by our parents never to talk to strangers.  As adults, we still listen to the reverberating voice of our parents in our head.  I'd like to propose a shattering reality.....we aren't kids anymore!

That's right, we have a few years of experience under our belts, and we're not as vulnerable or naive as we once were.  So, let's do a bit of a mind shift here and consider all the opportunities (i.e. strangers) that we are constantly encountering to share the Gospel.

A recent example in my life is my encounter with Todd.  He's a man in his mid 20s who I see all the time walking on the side of the street.  The other day it was cold and snowing, and I had an hour to spare.  So I pulled over and told him to get in.  He got in and since he didn't have a specific destination, we drove for a little while and finally pulled over in a parking lot to talk.

My talk with Todd ended up being a great conversation about Truth and the fulfillment of life that is only found in Christ.  Since then, I've run into him once more, and we had another good talk in a parking lot, and by then he was more comfortable around me and began opening up about his personal struggles.

In conclusion, I submit to you that we must take initiative and be bold in our witness of Christ, suppressing certain paternal voices in our head.  In so doing, we will have the privilege of witnessing the Holy Spirit do the miraculous work of transforming lives!

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Product Summary
In 2 Peter, Peter exhorts all who read his letter to make their calling and election sure by diligently pursuing the fruit of the Spirit. “For in this way,” he writes, “there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11, ESV). 

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The Duty of Pursuing Assurance

Assurance Enhances Sanctification

Four Kinds of People

False Assurance

Gaining True Assurance

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