Outward Focus Thoughts

[byfaith1965]

Not long ago Jim Smith of Christian radio station WAKW encouraged Dave Workman to share some of the Vineyard's DNA of being outward focused with his listeners. He suggested that a daily example of how to serve others could be a lift to the Christian Community in Cincinnati.

This has become a blessing for me in the mornings to keep my spirit awake and alive. I wanted to start a thread here to share this with others to start discussions about being an Outward Focused Christian.

Please listen to the short two minute outward focus thought. It uses real player for audio. Then share any thoughts or ideas that you may have.

http://rs.eonstreams.com:8080/ramgen/vcc/oft002.rm

Here's a letter to Dave Workman pastor of the Cincinnati Vineyard community Church

Hi Dave. I just returned from a drive-thru in Sharonville, where I had my lunch paid for by the woman in front of me. I was very touched. But since I also attend the Vineyard I figured the Big Guy would want me to pass this blessing along. So I bought the lunch for the gentlemen behind me. At this point the cashier tells me that this is the second time in a week that the same thing has happened to her. It must mean that we are gaining critical mass in our efforts to love the people of Cincinnati into relationship with Christ (or that people who attend the Vineyard really like drive-thrus).

But I do have one question. The lunch of the gentleman behind me cost 20 cents more than my lunch would have. Do you think God will credit the 20 cents to me as righteousness or do you think he rounds to the nearest dollar?

Have a great week.

Pastor Workman,
A few months ago I heard a message on the radio where you were talking about being a servant and that we should go out and serve someone. Well, the idea for that day was to go to a local drive thru restaurant and to ask the cashier what the bill was for the person behind you and pay for it while giving the cashier a simple note to give to the person behind you that says, "I just want you to know that God loves you."
Well, I did that and as I pulled around through the drive thru I kind of waited until I saw someone pulling in the parking lotbecause that early in the morning there wasn't anyone there. I quickly pulled in front of them and entered the drive thru so as they wouldn't expect anything and I could see a rather hard looking man as I ordered my food.
I pulled around with the note I had already written while waiting and ask the cashier what the gentleman's bill was. She said $5.02 and I paid her for it after paying for mine and asked her to give him the note. She opened it up and read it and I could see it in her eyes that she was touched. She smiled and said okay and I hurried to the next window to get my order and get out of there before the gentleman could pull up to see me.
Mr. Workman, this giving thing is pretty cool and I have realized that it touches far more people then we ever know. Now as you always say, "Lets Go Serve Someone."

 

[byfaith1965]

Heres another Outward Focus Thought. Please click the link below for the snippet.

http://rs.eonstreams.com:8080/ramgen/vcc/oft020.rm

I recently went on a car wash outreach with a bus load of teenagers. I was the leader of this group, first time for me by the way, the leader part. Anyway we went to a poor neighborhood in Cincinnati. I was told to just let the kids do the work and kind of be there for supervision and to aide if any problems arise. So this wasnt a "normal" type of car wash. We where actually walking aroung with buckets, hoses, spray bottles and soap knocking at the doors of peoples homes asking if we could show Gods love in a practical way by washing their cars.

Anyway to my surprise we where dropped off on a street that I lived on with my parents, a long time ago. It was the first and only home I shared with the two of them before their divorce. I lived there when I was 5 and 6.

We approuched a home that looked familuar to me. I instantly remembered playing at this home as a child. The teens saw a woman pull up to the house and ran to her asking her if they could wash her car. She gladly said sure and then I went up to her and introduced my "39 year old" self as a member of the Vineyard Community Church. She took one look at me and said MARY!!!!! I couldnt believe it. This was the little 5 year old girl that I use to play with as a child. Now we where looking at each other with adult faces in shock. I was in shock because I couldnt believe that she still lived there and remembered me and she was in shock because I was there. She called her mother to come outside and again I hear a cry out of my name and recieved a big hug. My old childhood friend told me that she had been having a hard time. Her soon to be husband passed away and she was in a bad relationship. I asked her if she was a believer and she said she had visited some churches but had not found one to attend on a regular basis.

Well to make a long story short God connected me with someone that needed him and used me to be at the right place at the right time. God is amazing!!!

 

[byfaith1965]

New Focus thought for the day.

I dont know if these messages are touching anyone, but heres another message of an Outward Foucus thought for the day.

click the link to listen

http://rs.eonstreams.com:8080/ramgen/vcc/oft142.rm