Offering to Help Breaks the Ice

[Tammy Roesch]

39 minutes ago, Arrabon said:

We live in a world of ever increasing violence and hatred, but we also live in an ever increasing world of fear , loneliness, pain, mental health problems, and other personal struggles.

I read the following verse, and it reminds me that being a Christian is never a safe lifestyle choice when we are living it daily and purposefully, and have considered the cost.

Romans 14:8, " If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

I did night time street ministry with a local church in a dangerous locations for some time.

All new members of the ministry were told that most of the people we were going to talk to on the street carried some type of weapon, and that this ministry could cost us our life at any time. It was a dire warning, we were faced with choosing. Literally putting our lives in God's hands. It changes your perspective.

Verses like the one above makes you think about the reality of being a Christian, and what God has called us to, and why.

A great testimony, Arrabon!  Thanks for sharing! I believe it's going to get more and more dangerous for us to reach out to strangers as time goes on...but we all have a GUARDIAN ANGEL and whether we live or die is not near as important as whether we are READY to die.  

[Tammy Roesch]

38 minutes ago, Hands On said:

I love talking to strangers on the street.I live in a small town of very mixed ethnic groups.After a while you get a nose for smelling out "chancers".I find as a Christian it's a wonderful opportunity to show others what you are by your kindness and deeds not necessarily  what you "say" .On many occasions I chat with a good Muslim friend from Sheri Lanka in his little shop.and we exchange points of view in the context of respect for each other's beliefs.

If need be, I always try to adhere to Peters's advice should the subject of beliefs enter the conversation "15  But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, 
16  but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will become ashamed of what they say. 
17  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if this should be God's will, than for doing evil. "(Good News Bible.I Pet.3:15-17) 

That is great, Hands On!  It's especially nice if we can reach out to those who do not look like us, so they see we are not racists

[missmuffet]

18 hours ago, Tammy Roesch said:

We were taking a walk down by the Lake this afternoon and where we live is a predominantly white area of Ohio.  There was a black couple there taking a picture of the river that runs into the lake.  They looked like travelers, out of towners...  We walked by them and there was very little eye contact.  I turned around and went back and asked them if they would like me to take a picture of them together.  That broke the ice.  We had a nice conversation and they said that the one lived here, and the other one, her brother, was from Alabama.  As Christians, we should cultivate being friendly to strangers...especially these days when so many are feeling so lonely and depressed.

I think that was nice that you offered to take a picture of them. Being kind is what God wants us to do. 

[Arrabon]

@missmuffet

"YES."!!!

Love and kindness in action, speaks louder, NAY, Screams louder, than anything we could ever say!!

[teddyv]

Simple kindnesses and considerations for others should be routine for anyone, Christian or not.

[Tammy Roesch]

3 minutes ago, teddyv said:

Simple kindnesses and considerations for others should be routine for anyone, Christian or not.

Exactly   For some, it's not that they are not kind, but many are shy, it's not easy for some to walk up to complete strangers....I understand that, even though for me, it's easy.