“Intimate friendship with God is a choice, not an accident.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (p. 128). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

That is true for every relationship.  I hear people say they are lonely and they have no friends but the reality is that is their choice.  Oh they may not think that is true but when they are sitting back waiting for people to reach out to them then they are choosing to not have friends.  To have friends you must take the first step and reach out. 

I am doing that right now.  I get on a train every day and come to Hollywood to two different coffee shops to meet new people.  I am right now right across the street from the Hollywood Palladium on Sunset near Hollywood and Vine where my church meets and I am here to reach out to people who don’t have a relationship with Christ.  I am making new friends and then eventually I will invite then to my church and they will show them the way to Christ.  That is the reason why I am a part of this church.  After every message people are invited to have a relationship with Christ.  The church I used to go to never gave that opportunity publically.  That wasn’t there purpose.  So I found a church that had that as purpose because that is my purpose.   My purpose is to invest and invite.  To invest in people’s lives and then invite them to a church that will show them the way.

Now the thing is a relationship with Christ is a choice but so many people don’t realize that.  It says in the Bible that people won’t know unless they have heard.  So I’m out doing the first part of connecting so they will know how to connect. 

If you want relationships with others and with Christ then you must do something.  As your friend I just wanted to share that fact with you today.  Find a place to make friends.  For many it isn’t easy but if you look around you will find someone who would like to be your friend if you just will reach out to them.  And then find a church that will introduce you to Jesus.  If you live in LA come to the Hollywood Palladium at 9:00 or 11:00 am this next Sunday.  I know that Pastor Rick or Pastor Jeremy will be sharing at the end of the service what you can do.

So why not do what you can to find a new friend?