Look at where our world is now. What a police officer has to encounter on the streets. What our society considers “normal.” (If you would’ve told me ten years ago that our country would be having a debate on the definition of marriage, I would have told you that you were crazy!) The decline in the morals of our society is unbelievable! There is no doubt in my mind that our nation is not going the direction it should.
Look at the battlefields that are public schools, what our teachers have to deal with now. When I was going to school, chewing gum in class was the biggest sin of all. When I got into middle school, smoking in the bathrooms was the big thing. There was some alcohol experimentation, but I don’t believe it was to the degree it is now. I cannot remember a single incident where someone brought a gun to school. (Well, I take that back: Several of the country boys had their shotguns in the gun rack in the rear window of their pick-ups, but that’s not the same as the issues we’re having now.)
What is wrong with having morals and standards nowadays? Why do those who disagree with Christians want to tell us to keep our religion to ourselves? Every time a politician talks about his faith, the media seem to go crazy about it. I don’t understand this, not one bit. It seems that every time we turn around, Christians are attacked by those who say we need to be tolerant—but the very ones who tell us that are not tolerant of us. As Christians we should love other people, and I think for the most part we do. I can remember when we as a country could have a political debate from different viewpoints and still be friends. Now, people who don’t believe the same as others call each other all kinds of derogatory names. (On the back windshield of my car I have a bumper sticker that promotes President Bush. There have been several instances when someone has shown me a derogatory gesture just because of that sticker. Why? What did I do to them? I don’t know them, and they don’t know me.)
It has become clearer to me that this world needs to return to the morals that we celebrated in an earlier time. But to reach people in this new age, we’ve got to try something new ourselves. Standing on a street corner, waving your Bible in the air, shouting at the top of your lungs that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” turns people off, no matter how true the statement is. I have met those who are “Bible thumpers,” and I wonder why they think they can convert people by forcing the Bible down their throats. Shouting aggressively doesn’t promote God’s message of love! Building relationships with people and being an example for others is a much better way of bringing others to Christ.
While relationship-building is important across the board, I especially want to challenge my fellow Christian small business owners to make a new effort in this area. That’s where we can intentionally impact our world for Christ: using our businesses as a mission field, from the relationships that we have built with our customers, employees, vendors, and communities.
Agape Travel has a business seminar coming up Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 – Sept. 3, 2012, with Evangelist Dave Kistler of HOPE Ministries International. This seminar will change your life! Brother Dave will take the Word of God and show us how we can impact those around us in light of the Prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10). By bringing just one person at a time to Christ, our sphere of influence will grow larger and larger, allowing us to bring the light of Christ to a dark world. Brother Dave and others will share with us how they have impacted their own communities through faith, charity, and life examples. Additionally, you will also learn valuable customer service skills to assist you with those clients who are a challenge to deal with, especially in a disputed transaction. Do not miss this study!
The coast for this seminar at sea is $465 per person for an inside stateroom and $500 for an oceanview stateroom. If you make your deposit before March 10, 2012, the normal $150 per person deposit is reduced to $75. The next payment of $200 per person is due April 30, and the final payment is due June 25. (I could be mistaken, but I believe a portion of this cruise’s cost is tax deductible. Don’t just take my word for it; please check with your CPA.)
Visit www.agapecruisetravel.com or email me at rick@agapecruisetravel.com for more information. I will get a registration form to you, and you can join us on this 4-day cruise from Tampa, Fl., to Cozumel, Mex., on the beautiful Carnival Paradise. We have limited space, so don’t delay—call or email me today!
God Bless,
Rick
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