Skip to main content

“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?
Labels:

Comments

  1. The Daydreamer ReaderAugust 20, 2014 at 1:50 PM

    Hi. I came across your post via BC (BlogCatalog)

    Indeed, whether it can be on making friends or getting to know Christ, it is our choice.

    The Lord is always there for us. We just have to find a quiet corner and talk to Him.

    Aneca @ The Rhapsodic Curiosities

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bill WilliamsAugust 20, 2014 at 2:03 PM

    Thanks for the thought, Aneca.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 21, 2014 at 5:18 PM

    Thanks Bill for sharing an insightful truth and your story of purposeful connection! :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“We believe it’s important to derive value from everything in our lives.”

A thought by Jon Tyson from his book, The Burden Is Light: Liberating Your Life from the Tyranny of Performance and Success (p. 118). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But is that all that is important? Jon says, “We want to realize an immediate return from whatever we invest in. I am prone to this way of thinking in so many areas of my life. ‘I paid a lot for that meal, yet the portions were not that big.’ ‘I invested two hours in that movie, and it was just okay.’   ‘I went to church, but the sermon wasn’t that profound.’ We believe it’s important to derive value from everything in our lives. But beauty doesn’t fit within that framework. When Mary anointed Jesus with oil, there was an immediate outcry against her extravagant generosity. ‘It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.’ (Mark 14:5) One gospel depicts the disciples crying, ‘Why this waste?...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body mor...
Post a Comment
Read more

“Hurry and love are incompatible.”

A thought by John Mark Comer from his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Wow, pretty strong thought isn’t it? John says, “All my worst moments as a father, a husband, and a pastor, even as a human being, are when I’m in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on my unrealistic to-do list, trying to cram too much into my day. I ooze anger, tension, a critical nagging—the antitheses of love. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re trying to get your type B wife and three young, easily distracted children out of the house and you’re running late (a subject on which I have a wealth of experience), just pay attention to how you relate to them. Does it look and feel like love? Or is it far more in the vein of agitation, anger, a biting comment, a rough glare? Hurry and love are oil and water: they simply do not mix.” He goes on, “Hence, in the apostle P...
Post a Comment
Read more