Reach My School

Powerful Statements

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:31:00 +0000

"You have one business on Earth - to save souls." -- John Wesley

"Christ alone can save the world, but Christ cannot save the world alone." -- David Livingston

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light" -- John Keith Falconer

"God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him" -- Hudson Taylor

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." -- C.T. Studd

"We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving" -- Alexander Duff

"If God wills the evangelization of the world, and you refuse to support missions, then you are opposed to the will of God." -- Oswald J. Smith, Missionary Statesman

"If I had 1,000 lives, I'd give them all for China" -- Hudson Taylor

"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God" -- William Carey, who is called the father of modern missions

"The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become." -- Henry Martyn, missionary to India and Persia

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose" -- Jim Elliot, missionary martyr who lost his life in the late 1950's trying to reach the Auca Indians of Ecuador

"We are debtors to every man to give him the gospel in the same measure in which we have received it" -- P.F. Bresee, founder of the Church of the Nazarene

"In the vast plain to the north I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been" -- Robert Moffat, who inspired David Livingstone

"Can't you do just a little bit more?" -- J.G. Morrison pleading with Nazarenes in the 1930's Great Depression to support their missionaries

"Lost people matter to God, and so they must matter to us." -- Keith Wright

"The Bible is not the basis of missions; missions is the basis of the Bible" -- Ralph Winter, U.S. Center for World Mission

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." -- C.T. Studd

"No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once." -- Oswald J. Smith

"This generation of Christians is responsible for this generation of souls on the earth!" -- Keith Green

"There is nothing in the world or the Church -- except the church's disobedience -- to render the evangelization of the world in this generation an impossibility." -- Robert Speer, leader in Student Volunteer Movement

"If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death." -- Dave Davidson

"If God calls you to be a missionary, don't stoop to be a king" -- Jordan Groom (variations of this also credited to G. K. Chesterson, Thomas Carlyle and Charles Haddon Spurgeon)

"World missions was on God's mind from the beginning." -- Dave Davidson

"Let my heart be broken with the things that break God's heart" -- Bob Pierce, World Vision founder

"No reserves. No retreats. No regrets" -- William Borden

"The reason some folks don't believe in missions is that the brand of religion they have isn't worth propagating." -- unknown

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, "You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages." To that, Calvert replied, "We died before we came here."

"Someone asked Will the heathen who have never heard the Gospel be saved? It is more a question with me whether we -- who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not -- can be saved." -- Charles Spurgeon

"God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him." -- Hudson Taylor, missionary to China

"The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time" -- Carl F. H. Henry

"Our God of Grace often gives us a second chance, but there is no second chance to harvest a ripe crop." -- Kurt von Schleicher

"Missions is the overflow of our delight in God because missions is the overflow of God's delight in being God." --John Piper

"The church that does not evangelize will fossilize." -- Oswald J. Smith

"God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply" -- Hudson Taylor

"You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving." -- Amy Carmichael, missionary to India

"Only as the church fulfills her missionary obligation does she justify her existence." -- Unknown

"You can't take it [money] with you but you can send it on ahead." -- Oswald J. Smith

"As long as there are millions destitute of the Word of God and knowledge of Jesus Christ, it will be impossible for me to devote time and energy to those who have both." -- J. L. Ewen

"The mission of the church is missions" -- Unknown

"Sympathy is no substitute for action." -- David Livingstone, missionary to Africa

"The command has been to 'go,' but we have stayed -- in body, gifts, prayer and influence. He has asked us to be witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth ... but 99% of Christians have kept puttering around in the homeland." -- Robert Savage, Latin American Mission

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." -- Nate Saint, missionary martyr

"We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God." -- John Stott

"Believers who have the gospel keep mumbling it over and over to themselves. Meanwhile, millions who have never heard it once fall into the flames of eternal hell without ever hearing the salvation story." -- K.P. Yohannan, founder of Gospel for Asia Bible Society

"We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first." -- Oswald J. Smith

"Tell the students to give up their small ambitions and come eastward to preach the gospel of Christ." -- Francis Xavier, missionary to India, the Philippines, and Japan

"The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity." -- Mike Stachura

"'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face -- whose mercy you have professed to obey -- and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world. -- William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

"It is not in our choice to spread the gospel or not. It is our death if we do not." -- Peter Taylor Forsyth, Herald of Holiness, March 1975

"Not, how much of my money will I give to God, but how much of God's money will I keep for myself." -- John Wesley

"If God's love is for anybody anywhere, it's for everybody everywhere." – Edward Lawlor, Nazarene General Superintendent

"Never pity missionaries; envy them. They are where the real action is -- where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge." -- Robert C. Shannon, Christian Standard, January 1983

"People who don't believe in missions have not read the New Testament. Right from the beginning Jesus said the field is the world. The early church took Him at His word and went East, West, North and South." -- J. Howard Edington

"It is possible for the most obscure person in a church, with a heart right toward God, to exercise as much power for the evangelization of the world, as it is for those who stand in the most prominent positions." -- John R. Mott

"In no other way can the believer become as fully involved with God's work, especially the work of world evangelism, as in intercessory prayer." -- Dick Eastman, president of Every Home for Christ (formerly World Literature Crusade)

"The best remedy for a sick church is to put it on a missionary diet." -- David Livingston

"What's your dream and to what corner of the missions world will it take you?" -- Eleanor Roat, missions mobilizer

"We can reach our world, if we will. The greatest lack today is not people or funds. The greatest need is prayer." -- Wesley Duewel, head of OMS International

"Love is the root of missions; sacrifice is the fruit of missions" -- Roderick Davis

"The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed" -- Hudson Taylor

"Missionary zeal does not grow out of intellectual beliefs, nor out of theological arguments, but out of love" -- Roland Allen

"I have but one passion: It is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ." -- Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf

“The light that shines farthest shines brightest at home." -- C.T. Studd

"The supreme task of the church is the evangelization of the world. No one has the right to hear the gospel twice until everyone has had an opportunity to hear it at least once.” -- J. Oswald Smith, Vital Christianity, June 1979

“God had only one Son and he made that Son a missionary.” -- David Livingston

Headed to Perryton

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:43:00 +0000

I am stoked!!! I am headed to Perryton, TX tomorrow for two reasons. I will be ministering in a church on Sunday. We normally have a great time in the Holy Spirit and a Seven Project.

The Seven Project goes to Perrtyton. The school assemblies along with the 7@Night will be on Wednesday. Everyone is welcome to come out, but also pray for us and the students. We are believing for a great harvest.

Altar Call at a 7@Night

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:37:00 +0000

GO! Campus Missions Conference

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Go to http://www.reachmyschool/ for more information.

On the road....

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:15:00 +0000

What's new? Driving. Well actually someone else is driving and I am blogging. Just thought I would give an update. Last Wednesday I was blessed to be apart of "Fields of Faith" in McCamey, TX. It was awesome. The band Ornan's Floor was excellent. I shared briefly then asked for a response. The response was awesome. It looked like half of the students came down to the football field to receive prayer.

Today we are diving back from being in Perryton. The Seven Project is headed there in February. It was a great meeting. Plus we got to minister at church. Services were awesome. It is so much fun to get to do this for a living.

Please Pray

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:19:00 +0000

I just posted the poster from a outreach coming up. Please pray for us and souls to be won. Thank you.

Fields of Faith

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:18:00 +0000

A Commitment to Pray

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:52:00 +0000

Prayer is the number one commitment that we ask of our Campus Missionaries. I think the five commitments should not be just for our Youth Alive Campus Missionaries, but it is a good commitment for us all.

Prayer is the fuel for our very spiritual existence. E. M. Bounds stated, "Prayer is far reaching in it influence and its gracious effects. It is an intense and profound business that deals with God and His plans and purposes, and it takes wholehearted men to do it. No halfhearted, half-brained, half-spirited effort will do for this serious, all-important, heavenly business. The whole heart, the whole brain, and the whole spirit must be engaged in the matter of praying, which is to affect so mightily the characters and destinies of men."

Think about it with me for a moment. In Youth Alive we challenge students to reach students. Should not that be all the challenge to all of us. People reaching people. Somebody once said that all we are is one beggar telling another one where to find bread. It all begins in prayer.

I challenge you that where ever you are in your prayer life to kick it up a notch. Kick it up in time, passion, direction, and intensity.

In Kansas

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:48:00 +0000

Just got through eating a great Kansas steak. It is a great honor to be here in Kansas to share with these Campus Missionaries. A generation is rising up to the challenge. Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day.

One the road again

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:59:00 +0000

It has been nice being home for a while, but we are hitting the road again. We just got back from Amarillo. We had an awesome service. God really showed up. The next few weeks will be in Kansas and several places in West Texas. One of those places will be Fritch, TX. They have some awesome stuff happening with their campus clubs.

We also have The Seven Project coming up in Andrews, TX on October 22nd. Please keep us in your prayers. Hundreds of students will be touched with the Gospel. Don't forget our website, www.toddandangela.com.

Seven Project Kickoff in Andrews

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:44:00 +0000

Finally...another 7 project. We are headed to Andrews, TX tomorrow for our kickoff rally. It is going to be awesome. Andrews will never be the same. Keep us in your prayers. The Seven Project date is October 22nd. We want to see some campus missionaries and campus clubs birthed out of this. Updates to come!

It will be different this time!

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:48:00 +0000

I just want to encourage our students as they head back to school. I want you to know that no matter how many times you have fallen or failed. It will be different this time! Sometimes we give up on our christian walk because we think it can't be done right, or because we seem to fall over and over. I just want you to know that it will be different this time. I know that you may have told yourself that over and over and then it ends up not. It ends up the same. Don't let that keep you down.

Jude 1:24
"To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy."

It is possible. It dosen't mean that there will not be tough choices and sacrifices. Make them. Do what has to be done for it to be different this time.

Have faith in Christ's ability. Sometimes we lean to much on our strength. He is able. Depend on Him. Love on Him. Obey Him. Follow Him. Seek Him. Find your strength in him.
Notice it says without fault. Endure. Endure. Endure. Live it out no matter how much it hurts. It is worth it. To be pesented before His glorious presence...WOW!
Also, notice it says with great joy. He not going say, "Father, here is Todd. You know he barely made it." No, it is not going to be that way at all.

Go for it this school year. If you fall, fail, or mess up. Make it different by dusting yourself off and getting up.

Quick Update

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:23:00 +0000

Just wanted to get some things out there:

If you are a campus missionary go to http://groups.google.com/group/west-texas-campus-missionaries it is something we are going to try to keep the CM's across our district in touch with each other.
If you have a campus club or attend a campus club go to http://groups.google.com/group/west-texas-campus-clubs We want to get some support going on for our CCs.
Don't forget about www.reachmyschool.com I am tryng to add stuff daily, so check it out. It is always under construction.

Keep us in prayer we have some important events coming up. Mainly Seven Project in Andrews on October 22nd. More details will come out later.

Blessings for now.

Outreach in Del Rio

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:07:00 +0000

Today we will be doing an outreach in Del Rio. This is our last day of outreach. Last night was an awesome youth service. Pray for salvations today. Blessings.

Headed to Mexico

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:54:00 +0000

Headed back to Mexico. We are meeting up with a medical missionary team today. While they are doing their thing we are going to do ours. It will be a full day of outreach today. We are believing for not just converts but completely changed lives.

This is Crazy!

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:59:00 +0000

It is crazy how busy the summer has been. WOW!!! I have wanted to blog about Youth Alive. I have wanted to blog about our summer camps. Now we are on our AIM trip now. There has been so much that I have wanted to blog, but no time. This is our crew. It is a great group. We have been in Del Rio/Acuna. So for now this is it, and hopefully I can stay up to date a litte.

Canutillo Seven Project

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Sat, 24 May 2008 17:35:00 +0000

We had an awesome week in El Paso. It was filled with many challenges. It seems the enemy always tries that last ditch effort to see things derailed. Our God raises the standard. Besides breakdowns and sickness we got to El Paso. We had two school assemblies at Canutillo high school. There were about 800 students in each assembly. It was awesome. We had the help of a great crew. El Paso Teen Challenge, the partnering churches, Travis (Kansas YA Missionary), Josh (Youth Pastor, The Worship Center in Lubbock), Oliver, and Chino. They did such an awesome job. The students were very open and receptive, eventhough they were a little bit rowdy. We had teacher come find us after the assemblies to tell us that the students were talking about the assembly and how the enjoyed it. We talked to the students about Choices, Self Respect, Substance Abuse, Abstinence, Dreams, and Scholastic Acheivement.
That night we came back for the Seven@Night. We had about 100 students come back that night. That was low compared to what we were expecting, but the school administration was surpised that we had that many show up. They said nobody comes back to night events. Of those 100 we had 52 make commitments of faith. It was awesome. It was a great victory for West Texas Seven Project. The administration is ready to endorse us to every school in El Paso. We are making way for the Kingdom in El Paso to help the churches of El Paso to impact their city. How awesome is that? We have more coming up. Stay tuned!

Things Are Crazy!

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:48:00 +0000

Wow. I have not had time at all to post about anything going on. We have been on the road so much the last couple of months. I am going to try to give a quick run down. Then hopefully I will be able to post some things about being missional and reaching people with the gospel.

We will be in churches ministering through May. I love being in the altars with people and seeing God do the work He does in lives. Also we are hoping to have a Seven Project in El Paso on May 15th. We could see up to 400 students committing their lives to Christ. That is what I live for. To see people come into relationship with Jesus. Awesome. I was just taking stock of where I have been and where we are going. It has to involve lost people. Without them, seeing their lives changed, heaven would be empty. Then we must ask ourselves. What did Christ die for?

He deserves the reward of His suffering.

Also I just found a couple of new artists, that I love their music. Julian Dirve and Kim Walker. Check them out.

Seven is going to Andrews in October and to Perryton sometime in the fall. Praise God. I love it. In the middle of all this we are gearing up for our missions trip in July. We are hoping to take a ton of young people and touch Del Rio for Jesus. Awesome. Also we have The Furnace in June. That is our summer internship at our youth camp. We have the best students in West Texas. Hungry for God. Hungry to make a difference. Hungry to see God move their schools.

AND THEN, let me take a breath. We are starting our new full time internship for college studetns this fall. Twentyfour-seven. Another dream coming true.

I am also trying to get www.toddstarnes.com up and running. We are close.

I am sure I have forgotten something. But that is the quick run down.

Blessings!

Ministry and Family Update

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:05:00 +0000

Wow, it has been to long since I have posted. Things have been a whirlwind. I am actually on I-27 headed back to Lubbock. No I am not driving and typing. My good friend Oliver is at the helm. He travels with me from time to time when my family can't. Let me see where to begin.

The planning for Seven going to El Paso is going well. I will actually be in El Paso next week making contact with our churches. I believe this will be a huge win for the Kingdom in El Paso. Thanks to the youth pastor Daniel Day.

I am actually on the road from presenting Seven to the pastors in Perryton, TX. The meeting went very well and they are wanting to touch the students of their school system with hope. Then last night I spoke at a church. It was awesome. We saw many students and adults receive ministry from the Holy Spirit. There was a tremendous freedom of the Holy Spirit.

Last Sunday we were in Muleshoe. They have voted in a new pastor, but he has not moved to Muleshoe yet. So we filled in. Things went great. Sunday night we focused on praying for the sick. I believe many were touched and ministered to by the Holy Spirit.

That is a fast and furious update. Things are going great. Please pray for our financial support. The only way we can continue to do this ministry is for faithful supporters to partner with us. I have never said anything on the blog and hopefully will not have to again. But if you would be interested in supporting us just shoot us an email.

Blessings!

Me and Chuck

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:24:00 +0000

I have to say that one of my heros is Chuck Norris. I mean come on, Chuck is awesome. Recently I had he chance to meet Chuck. My favorite things in life:

Family

Hunting

Youth Alive

Chuck Norris

Life is great!

Hell and the Handbasket (repost)

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:57:00 +0000

Just thought I would repost this one.

What is a handbasket anyway? (For those that don't know me that was a rhetorical question.) One thing is for certain, that all the good statistics are going down and all the bad ones going up. C.T. Studd stated, "Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." So if the world is going to hell in a handbasket, than lets climb in it as start tossing the world out.

There is no doubt that in most cases unbelievers are not lining up to fill our pews (or chairs for post moderns). I have read that in Charles Spurgeon's church that he would have to actually ask his members to leave so the the people lined up on the outside of their church (unbelievers) could come into the church. So what do we do? Maybe we simply do what Jesus did.
Jesus went. Jesus fished. Jesus forgave. Jesus healed. In John 20 Jesus tells us that He is sending us the same way the Father sent Him.

The church has almost gotten to the place that its us against them. Home team verses the visiting team. Shirts against the skins. Well, you get the idea. Jesus again tells in John 4:35, "You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest."

We must go and give repentance. John 20:23 in the NIV states, "If you forgive anyone his sins (remitted{KJV}), they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven (retained {KJV}).

This is not saying that we have the power to forgive or not forgive the sins of others. Only God can do that. If I may submit a sidebar here: when it comes to our relationships with one another we must give and recieve forgiveness. What this verse is saying is that we are the ones that are to go out and tell people that there is forgiveness for their sins. If they believe they will be forgiven. If they don’t believe they will not be forgiven.

It simply comes down to the simply definition of evangelism. As D.T. Niles said, "Evangelism is just one beggar tell another beggar where to find bread." The only difference between us and the lost is that we believed. We believed and our sins were forgiven.

Luke 19:1-10 NIV19Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'"
8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Just as Zacchaeus was in that seek-him-more tree, we are surrounded by people in that same tree. The fact of the matter is that they might here the message of redemption unless we give it and live it. There are people in that seek-him-more tree all around us. As a matter of fact, we are surrounded by a forest of 250,000,000 people who do not attend church regularly. What we have to realize is that they are seeking, they don't know what they are seeking for, and we have the answer through Jesus Christ.

I love verse 10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost."
That is what Jesus did. He went!Ezekiel 34:16, I will search for the lost and bring back the strays.Matthew 1:21, he will save his people from their sins.Matthew 9:13, I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.Matthew 18:11, For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.Luke 5:32, I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.1 Timothy 1:15, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

It is our privilege to have world evangelism as a passion, not our responsibility to have as a burden. –Mary Nordstrom

Next time your at the check out counter keep an eye out for who is in that tree. Next time filling up with gas, look around. Next time your eating out, actually leave a good tip, and ask where your server goes to church. We are surround by them. Let's open our eyes to the harvest field, and let's go like Jesus did.

I will end with a quote from Paul Harvey, "Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men, but keepers of the aquarium."

An update...

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:47:00 +0000

Just wanted to do an update. If your interest is personal evangelism, hang in there I will make some posts this week.

This weekend was our youth convention. We call it The Awakening. It was awesome. It is one of the best we have ever had. I hated to see it end. Sure make me look forward to what God will do next year.

We hade about 20 more sign up to be Campus Missionaries. That brings our total to about 170 in our district. How awesome is that? To have 170 students in their schools living it out loud to their friends. 170 students praying for their school, 170 students serving and giving at their school. That's awesome. Many people think that this world is going to hell and a hand basket. (I have a post about that.) But I think things are ripe for an awakening.

Lord, let it come through our young people.

Right to Share the Gospel

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:19:00 +0000

There is a thought in the Christian circles that we have to earn the right to share the gospel with people. That we have to do things to win friendships for the gosple to be recieved. I believe that some of this is true. I believe build all the relationship we can.

Paul said that he become all things to all men that some might be saved. Jesus went to the house of Zacchaeus' house. We read many examples and have heard many sermons.

Let us not lose focus on what Jesus commanded us. He said, "go into all the world". Paul wrote, "how can they hear without someone preaching to them." The Word is a double edged sword. Jesus said, "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." What gives us the right to share the gospel is that Jesus commanded us to do so. What gives us the right to share the gospel is Jesus gave His life for the lost, and he deserves the the reward of His suffering.

Build relationships, yes. Just remember to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and don't be intimated to preach the gospel.

Romans 1:16
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (NIV)

"Is-ness or Ought-ness"

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:37:00 +0000

"I refuse to accept the idea that the 'isness' of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal 'oughtness' that forever confronts him." --Martin Luther King Jr. (Noble Peaces Prize Acceptance Speech)

If you have never read this speech it is a must.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-acceptance.html

Reaching out to those who do not know Christ at this point seems to be an oughtness instead of an isness. We must allow the reality of the lost to dictate our actions. It more than a good idea; it is a command. This excert of Dr. Kings speech is true in so many areas of life, but not in reaching the lost. Lets make it an isness and not an oughtness.

*Title for this blog comes from Bill Hybels book "Holy Discontent".

Scripture for last post...

youthalive@reachmyschool.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:30:00 +0000

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NIV
14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.