Slow Down, Don’t Rush |
A medical school once told this story. “I was finishing up my classwork in med school. One day the prof threw us a pop quiz. I was a good student and kept up with my studies. I breezed through the questions until I came to the last one. It asked, “What’s the name of the woman who cleans our classrooms and bathrooms in the medical school?”
“I read the question and thought. “Is this some kinda joke?” I’d seen the lady many times (tall, dark-haired, probably late 40s), but why would I know her name? I left that last question blank and turned in my quiz. Before class ended, one student asked if the last question counted toward the quiz grade. “Absolutely,” said the professor.
In your careers, every Sunday at Northstar and even in our daily lives, you and I will meet many people. Each and everyone is important. They deserve our attention and care, even if all you do is smile at them and all you know about them is their name.”
You see, the truth is, you are called by the Lord Jesus to be a witness to the non-Christian and an encourager to your fellow-believers. Listen, that’s a tough task if you’re so busy that you don’t take time to learn the names of people you see in your world every day. So this week when you walk into the gym, or grabbing that coffee at Starbucks, slow down, take some time, and look for those God opportunities to invest in others. You’ll be amazed how often doors open to tell somebody about your best Friend. I dare you to try.
About Chris Lindberg
Chris leads Northstar Church’s growing ministry to Jr. High and High School students, Arora, as well overseeing Northstar’s creative department.
Thanks for the reminder. I’ll take the dare!
Did our mama’s raise us right or not?
* Look people in the eye when you speak to them.
* Offer a sincere hello.
* Stop and make time for others - you never know when they may really need you to listen; typically they won’t just blurt out that they have a deep seated need.
* Do unto others…
This is one of the most important actions we can take as “Christians” and as humans who are desperately trying to coexist - what a great message, Pastor Chris.
I find that so many of us are closed off (intentionally or otherwise), we don’t look people in the eye anymore and forget to acknowledge the existence of others. Don’t let someone pass you by w/o, at the very least, offering a SINCERE smile or hello. I can give countless examples of when slowing down and even stopping to allow someone to be apart of our daily lives and them allowing us to be a part of theirs changes their course…and ours.
I can say from experience that really engaging people – meeting them where they’re at in their journey - will add value to each and everyone’s existence.
For more than a quarter of a century, Blaine Bartel has served what he believes is the hope of the world, the local church. Before leading the launch of Northstar Church, Blaine served as associate pastor in Tulsa, helping to build one of America's most innovative churches.
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Hats off to Canada... http://yfrog.com/auncymj
It's on. Canada v. USA. Silver is going to look very nice on the Americans. Our game. Our time. Our GOLD.
Dinner tonight with Chris & Carrie Faulkner. What great friends.
Tatum and I gave Sadi (our little shitzue dog) a listerine strip to freshen her breath. I think she had a love hate relationship with it.
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