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Outflow: Generous Living In a Stingy World By David Ping & Steve Sjogren If it is all about God, why do we live as if it is all about us? This book--a cross between a manifesto and a how-to manual--inspires readers to embrace outreach as a lifestyle--a natural, everyday thing that is as normal as going to the grocery store. When church members lead joyful, outward-focused lives, they make powerful connections with family and friends...and those connections are opportunities to share Gods love. Simple and Biblical, too. Outflow inspires a vision for living an outward focused life and provides practical tools to make that vision a reality with:
Steve Sjogren pioneered Servant Evangelism at a church that grew from a handful of members to more than 5,000 members using Outflow principles. |
Potluck
I recently had the good fortune of attending a community potluck that was in celebration of a puppet show put on by various groups of children in the neighbourhood. All these children attend rather rough schools in an even rougher neighbourhood and most of them come from single parent families. They look forward to these weekly clubs where they are taught practical skills, experience self-worth, have a snack or two and most of all, have an opportunity to meet Jesus.
Usually, these kids perform to fellow classmates or to our church but this was a special occasion. We invited their parents and family members to come together. To honour our special guests, we decided to have lunch together and as this was on less that a weeks notice due to a communication glitch, many a kitchen chef went into shock then hurriedly moved into planning mode.
I arrived right when the puppet show began. the tables set aside to receive food looked sparse and empty as I sat my little bowl of hummus and plate of pita bread chips down and asked the Lord to multiply my wee little offering. Although I enjoyed the puppet show, laughing and cheering as the different groups presented well rehearsed sets, I kept on looking at the empty table. Such short notice didn't allow the pastors to drill in their congregation's heads to not forget to bring enough food for their families and one family more. A few late comers trickled in, dropping off their dishes. But it was nowhere enough for the such a large group of people. Many of those people probably hadn't had a good meal in a while.
The last two groups performed, it was down to the good-bye song and I was distracted by the silly antics of a orangutan, a green duck and a orange lion. In the time it took for them to finish their song and take their bows and receive the well-deserved applause of an appreciative crowd, I doubted the table would suddenly be overflowing with abundant treats and healthy food. Well, Doubting Katherine needed to do some instant repentance.
Pizzas had been hastily ordered and filled up a good section of the table. I suppose someone else was doubting as well. But God had other plans. What seemed to be not enough now was 'too much'. Chilies, salads, sandwiches, chicken, home-made rolls and breads, lasagnas all crowded together, competing for space. Cakes, cookies and squares sat at the dessert table, all tempting people to fit a 'little bit more' on their plate.
By the time 200 people went up for thirds, you would think there wouldn't be much left over. And you would be wrong. Huge pots of chili were scooped up and packaged for people to take home. Buns, cheese and meat were set aside to take down to our local men's shelter, children were given cookies to take home. And still, there were leftovers.
How often do I fret that there won't be 'enough'. Enough grace, enough patience, enough love, enough joy, enough peace, enough finances, enough strength? And how often do I pray. "Lord, multiply my little offering." then I go on in disbelief that I won't have enough to give others? So often I look at what others bring to the 'table' of life and think that it's not enough and it won't go far enough. Oh how the Lord must shake His head at my disbelief. the same God who took the sardines and breadrolls from a lad and fed thousands is the same God who wants me to have the same simple faith that lad had. God will take what we give out of obedience and multiply it so not only is there 'enough' but there is more than enough, overflowing down upon those around us.
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