In more recent years it has occurred to me that Jesus didn’t evangelize that way. Jesus was never in a hurry. As I share in the ReTooled & ReFueled Seminar for Jesus, conversion wasn’t about “closing” another sale. And it wasn’t to make him feel more spiritual. As a matter of fact, Matthew records some of Jesus’ last instructions to his disciples this way: “As you go about whatever else you’re doing always be ready to share the good news of what I’ve done in your lives” (loosely paraphrased from Matthew 28).

For Jesus, seeing a lost person turn her heart to him was about that individual. Jesus understood that people are not robots who can be force fed a stack of facts and, then, immediately and predictably come to his inevitable conclusion. Instead, having made humankind in his own image, Jesus realized that people are all about relationship. We thrive on relationship. We find our joy in relationship.

The Jesus approach was to first find a person’s perceived need and tend to it. He fed hungry people. He healed sick people. He befriended lonely people. He picked up the scraps of humanity and invested himself in their lives by meeting their needs. Then, with a solid bridge of relationship constructed, he shared the good news. Some years later, the apostle Paul mused, “How beautiful are the feet of the one who brings the good news.”

So with this as my springboard, allow me to share an idea that you might want to try. Begin by selecting a restaurant near your home. For me, this will probably be a nearby Waffle House. I won’t digress too far here, but I want to explain why I mention the Waffle House. If you’re not a Southerner, you may not be familiar with these delightful greasy spoons that dot our part of the country.

While they’re certainly not known for health-conscience menus, there’s nothing better than one of their famous waffles. But there’s another, more practical, reason why I prefer Waffle Houses for this particular ministry. I call Waffle Houses “cave torches.” These 24/7 diners are built with huge glass windows and filled with bright, fluorescent lighting. At night, they look like torches in a cave. (Stay with me here. In a moment you’ll see why this is important.)

Since it may take several attempts to find the “right” situation, an especially good time of year to begin this project might be about mid-November. Go into your selected restaurant as often as it takes to meet a server who obviously is hurting. Maybe it will be a young woman wearing a button with a picture of two toddlers. A second glance tells you that she isn’t wearing a wedding band. You can pretty well fill in the blanks. Gradually, over a couple of visits, you begin a dialogue with her. Then one day simply ask, “I’m going to say a prayer for my meal in a moment. Is there anything I can pray about for you?” Whether she accepts or rejects your offer, your warmth will likely touch her soul. Don’t rush. Simply continue visiting the restaurant and always be sure to sit in her station. Talk. Communicate. Show true concern.

Then, as Christmas draws closer, think about this young woman. Ask yourself, “What does she need that she probably doesn’t already have?” Note: This is not the time to over-spiritualize things and declare to yourself, “She needs Jesus!” Sure she does. You know that. The trouble is, she is still probably unaware of her true need. But she does perceive the need for enough money to buy some toys for her kids.

So before your next visit (now just a few days prior to Christmas) gather the family together and agree not to buy another bunch of idiot gifts that no one really wants or needs. Instead, determine that this Christmas will be for Jesus—and the girl at the restaurant. That evening go back to the restaurant.

Order a meal and visit a little more. By this time, your server may be looking forward to your visits. Spend a couple of extra moments and inquire about her children. Talk about anything she wants to discuss. Remind her that she’ll be in your prayers, and wish her the merriest Christmas ever. Then, as you leave, slip a $100 bill under your plate. Quietly go out to your car—and watch her pick the plate up. That, dear one, is Christmas! (By the way, this is why I prefer restaurants with big windows and lots of light.)

When the New Year turns, drop back in. Don’t make any big deal—just be your friendly self. In time, the odds are high she will open her heart and soul to you. That’s when it becomes person to personal. Then, as her true friend, you can begin to share the really good news. Isn’t life too short not to do it the Jesus way?

Steve Diggs has presented the No Debt No Sweat! Money Management and ReTooled & ReFueled Essential Life-Skills Seminars over 500 times at churches, colleges, conferences, employee groups, and other venues nationwide. Visit Steve at www.NDNS.org, www.RetooledAndRefueled.com or www.SteveDiggs.com or call 615-834-3063. The author of seven books, Steve has been a TV commentator, syndicated columnist, minister, and, today, is a fulltime speaker. For 25 years he was President of the Franklin Group, Inc. Steve and Bonnie have four grown children whom they have home schooled. The family lives in Brentwood, Tennessee.

No Debt No Sweat! Christian Money Management Seminar teaches God’s people how to use God’s money God’s way. More at www.NDNS.org.

ReTooled & ReFueled: The Essential Christian Life-Skills Seminar shows Christians how to live for the beautiful bye and bye—while dealing with the nasty now and now. More atwww.RetooledAndRefueled.com.

It’s sort of the same way with God. While speaking at various churches with the Retooled and Refueled Seminar, I explain that if we miss God’s introduction, we don’t get the big picture. Then we are left without the necessary tools to be about his business. Sadly, most of our postmodern culture is in just such a predicament.

Whatever man was intended to be, it is clear that that is not what he has become. Do you ever find yourself wondering, “Could it be that we Christians are wrong and the secular humanists are right? Maybe life, in fact, has no intrinsic value. Maybe humanity is nothing more than a random alignment of chemicals.”

Granted, we live in an increasingly crass and coarse culture. Fewer people understand the art of gentility. Disrespect abounds. Human dignity and worth are foreign concepts to many. Far too much value is placed on whether something (or someone) is “useful” to society. And with that as our basic criteria, it becomes increasingly easy to “end a pregnancy” or stop medical aid to the aged—today’s equivalent of putting an aging Eskimo on an ice float and pushing him out to sea.

I suspect that much of this problem is the result of humanity having missed God’s Introduction. God spoke very early and directly about the human condition: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground’” (Genesis 1:26, niv).

As Augustine said, there is a “God-shaped vacuum” in our souls. And I believe this short passage in the first chapter of the Bible is at the epicenter of that fundamental truth. It is, in a very real sense, the human genome of the spirit. Until we understand the profound depth and exquisite implications of this simple passage we will never really “get” God’s big picture.

Reread the words from the passage slowly and drink them in. Do you see God’s symmetry? We are made to be like God. We are not animals. Despite PETA’s protests to the contrary, we rule over the animals. We have value because we are human. And humans have value because we are made in the image of our God.

When one comprehends the implications of this, it will prevent us from ever showing disrespect to God by disrespecting anyone made in his image.

Profanity and hateful comments are not acceptable because someone “lacks the vocabulary to adequately express himself.” No, profanity and hurtful words are wrong because they show disrespect to a fellow human being made in the image of God. Euthanasia cannot be rationalized because all humans have value. Why? Simply because they are human. And abortion is not acceptable because it ignores that what you are right now is exactly what that unborn baby will become, if allowed to grow.

You have never seen a mere mortal—because as C. S. Lewis said, “There are no mere mortals.” All mortals are God-designed and God-formed.

Do you remember that day in Jesus’ ministry when some Jewish legalists approached the Teacher trying to trap him with the question: “Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Seeing through their hypocrisy, Jesus zeroed in on the real issue: “‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax. They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, ‘Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. Then he said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away” (Matthew 22, emphasis mine, niv).

For much of my life I thought that I understood the point of this story. But one thing confused me. I wondered what Jesus meant by giving “to God what is God’s?”

I believe maybe I’ve figured it out in light of the earlier passage from Genesis. Could the ultimate implication be that, since we are all created in the image of God, then the things of God that Jesus spoke of are those of us he made in his image? And, if we are “God’s things” then doesn’t it follow that no one is beyond the reach or the love of God? That is the good news!

And, sadly, sometimes I forget to thank God.

There have been so many desperate moments in my life (as I would suspect there have been in yours) when I was left sucker-punched and gasping for air. In the Retooled and Refueled Seminar I speak of the time we learned that our daughter, Megan, had a growth on her spine. The day that we learned that our largest client had filed bankruptcy and the future of our firm was in some question. The doctor’s visit that began with the words, “This isn’t going to be a very pleasant meeting.” Stop for a moment and force your mind back to a similar situation in your own life. Maybe you don’t have to think very hard. Maybe your immediate response is, “Steve, I’m in the middle of one of those moments right now! And, frankly, it doesn’t feel like a moment—it feels like an eternity.”

If your behavior in such experiences is like mine, three things may be true. First, in the middle of the storm you are completely and totally given over to God. You suddenly become very religious. You spend every moment you can spare breathing a prayer. The minute you get home you rush to your bedroom, shut the door, and fall before God pleading with him for the help you cannot supply from your own strength. Maybe you are even tempted to “bargain”

with God: “Father, if you will only grant me this one request, I will never do this or that again.” At first you worry about the way you form the words of your prayer. “Am I saying this correctly—did I include all the ‘right’ words to get through?” But soon, your prayer goes from clearly formed sentences to moans and whimpers that can only be understood by the Spirit of God. You feel totally wasted when you finally stand to leave the room. You wonder, “Did God hear me? What will he do?” Then, immediately you chastise yourself for having such a “faithless” thought—and hope it doesn’t somehow negate the prayer you’ve just prayed.

Sometimes days pass seemingly with no answer—no resolution. Often the storm lasts for weeks or even months.

However, in time, the second stage comes—a new morning! The Psalmist says, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (90:14, niv). The phone rings and it’s the doctor’s nurse (thankfully not the doctor himself) to tell you that the tests all came back negative. Or the broker calls to tell you that the horrible loss

in your retirement account was their mistake, and by day’s end all of your money will be refunded. Or your spouse finally comes home with tears in his eyes, forgives you, and you melt into one another’s arms. You are so relieved you hardly know what to do.

This is when we enter stage three. As life returns to normal, so do we. The shopping still has to be done. Then there’s the Tuesday night bowling league. And don’t forget the kids’ soccer games. Suddenly, without even realizing it, we have put God back in the closet of our mind. We know he’s there, but we treat him like a “tool” that is at one moment urgently needed then, with the emergency passed, put away and forgotten.

Too often this is exactly the way I’ve treated God. When the pressure and the passion have passed, my prayers end. It’s as though someone has snatched me from the waves in the middle of an ocean and hoisted me aboard the safety of his ship—and all I do is ask, “Which way is it to the shuffleboard court?” Following is a passage from Luke that is at once one of the happiest and one of the saddest passages in the Bible. Note the part I have put in italics. “As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him…calling out, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’…he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough…Jesus said, ‘Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God?’” (Luke 17: portions of 12-19, The Message)

My God is not some tool in the back of the closet of my life. He is not my cosmic bell-hop. God is God. He loves me and hopes that I will love him back.

As the years of my life have fallen away, I’ve become increasingly dedicated to what military people call debriefing. When a mission is completed it is SOP (that’s Standard Operating Procedure for you non-military types) to re-think, re-live, re-evaluate, and re-examine. It is time to reassess and remember all that has happened. And it is time to give credit to whom credit is due. In some cases individuals receive medals and awards.

I believe that it is my privilege and my duty not to forget God when morning breaks and the sun begins to shine again. When God has brought me through a storm, it seems the least I should do is to honor him with intentionality. I need to return to that same spot on the floor that soaked my tears just yesterday as I pled with God to lend the help that only he could supply. I need to muster the same level of passion that I experienced during the crisis. But, this time, turn it into joyful, abundant, abandoned praise, worship, and thanks. We have great biblical precedent for this too. When God had blessed the Israelites’ prayer for protection from their enemies, King David didn’t return to the daily grind without praising God lavishly. “David…danced before the LORD with all his might…with shouts and the sound of trumpets… (When David’s wife) Michal…saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in

her heart…David said to Michal…‘I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.’ And Michal…had no children to the day of her death. (2 Samuel: portions of verses 14-23, niv)

So the question is pretty easy. When God blesses me—do I want to end up like David (a man after God’s own heart), or like Michal? The choice is mine.

Sadly, my baby boomer generation and those who’ve come after have never mastered some of the finer points of that elder generation’s culture. But I have noticed one not so great tendency common among people from that great generation. Many older adults don’t find it easy to apologize and admit fault — especially to someone who is younger.

I strive to be honest in my writing, so I want to honor that commitment as I share something that I have never written about before. One author, when asked if it was hard to write a book, said, “Not at all. All you have to do is open a vein.” Well, here is where I must pull out a razor and become painfully personal.

My mother was one of the godliest women I have ever known. Before I was born, she quit her job as a teacher to become a 24/7 mom. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting on Mother’s lap as she read us Bible stories. She always put my dad and us children first. She was always at home when I came in from school — with a plate of cookies and an RC Cola. She served everyone she knew.

When we were finally off to college, Mother made food for the lonely, visited the sick, and built a successful Christian pre-school. She was as close to perfect as a mother will ever be. With that said, she had a flaw. Mom could not make herself admit wrong and apologize. Sure, occasionally she would make a sweeping comment like, “Oh, I’m sure I’ve made mistakes.” But I don’t recall a single time when, of her own volition, Mother sat down beside me and simply said, “Steve, I mishandled that situation, and I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?”

I wish she had. It would have improved our relationship tremendously. It would have lessened my adolescent frustration, anger and rebellion. I knew she wasn’t perfect. My dad knew she wasn’t perfect. I imagine she knew she wasn’t perfect. But by not willingly admitting it, resentment grew. To the day of her death, Mother could never bring herself to deal with this problem.

I probably have not been as good a father as she was a mother. But one thing we determined to do early and as often as necessary was to apologize to our children. There have been scores of times over the years when Bon and I messed up with the kids. Often we didn’t realize it until one of them pointed the fact out. And, too frequently, I allowed my pride to dominate. There have been times when I denied my mistake — or got mad at the child who was impertinent enough to make such an observation.

But in most cases, it finally sunk in and I realized I had dropped the ball. I needed to stop everything, go to that child and say the simple words, “I’m sorry. I really blew it, and I hope you will forgive me.”

Did this make us perfect parents? Not at all. But it did make us a little less imperfect.

We noticed almost immediate benefits from this approach. A gentle word really did turn away wrath. It had a soothing, calming effect on the children. It’s hard to stay mad at a parent who is willing to apologize. A sincere “I’m sorry” is one of the most disarming phrases one can utter.

Maybe this is part of what the Lord meant when he told fathers, “. . . do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, NIV).

Being willing to apologize also helped foster deep bonds and profound friendships with our now adult children. Over the years they have thanked us for being willing to admit our faults. But the greatest blessing has been to Bonnie and me. Today each of our four adult kids comes to Mom and me regularly to discuss their problems, dreams, and relationships. Sometimes their nakedly open honesty leaves us dismayed. They confess their sins to us and ask for prayer and guidance.

Apologizing quickly goes far beyond the parent/child relationship. As Christians, we need to be ready to admit guilt and apologize whenever the Spirit prompts us. We talk about mistakes we make in the Retooled and Refueled Seminar. When we make errors, it’s wise to step up and make things right — before someone demands it. “If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God” (Matthew 5:23b-24, The Message).

Nope, I can’t promise that this neat little formula will always make for a happy-clappy, problem-free, no-fuss-no-muss life. But if you model honesty, vulnerability, and a confessional heart, don’t be surprised if you see the same reflected back to you one day. Isn’t life too short not to give it a try?

But what about those bumper stickers that tell the world that I’m a Christian? You know the ones. Sometimes they’re in the shape of a fish. Others make a proclamation of belief in Jesus as the Way to God. Why don’t I put those particular stickers on my car? After all, if I’m really serious about Jesus, don’t I want to be a walking, talking billboard? Isn’t life too short to miss such opportunities?

This is where it’s going to get a bit tougher because this is going to force me to admit an embarrassing truth. I don’t put those bumper stickers on my car because I’m afraid I’ll do something that will destroy my witness. I’m afraid I’ll do more harm than good.

What if I cut another driver off in traffic or lose my temper and glare at someone? Do I really want the last thing they see as I pull away to be a sign advertising my allegiance to Jesus? It’s the same reason I don’t wear many “Jesus shirts.” I love and respect other Christians who attach the bumper stickers and wear the clothes — as long as they are really representing Jesus. But Jesus gets some of his worst PR from professing Christians who don’t live their profession well.

Recently I was working on a project with one of my dearest friends, Pat Boone. One thing about Pat — he’s not ashamed to proclaim his faith. As a matter of fact, he wears neck chains and rings with godly symbols all the time. One day as we were wrapping up some work in his den, Pat pulled out a ring and said, “Steve, I have a gift for you.” I wasn’t quite sure how to handle a guy giving me jewelry. But in a moment I saw what it was: A beautifully designed ring with a very large cross in the middle — just like the one Pat was wearing.

Ah, this was perfect for me! Not as bold as a bumper sticker or as bombastic as a tee-shirt — but at least it was something. It was a start. So I thanked Pat profusely and accepted the gift. As I put the ring on my pinky, I decided that this would be my first witness to the world, so I turned the cross outward.

Since that day, I’ve worn my cross ring 24/7. As a matter of fact, recently a young woman at a cash register noticed it when I paid my bill. Over the months I’d seen her on a number of occasions. I had always been amiable and friendly. She said, “I really like your ring.” I thanked her politely and walked on.

Was she another Christian who had been encouraged by my ring? Was she a seeker who had run me through whatever litmus test she uses to assess whether Christians are real or fakes? I don’t know. But at least in that one particular case, I was able to smile in my heart as I walked away knowing I had acted like Jesus would want me to act. I had not embarrassed my Master.

Now for you Christians who are much more mature than I am — those of you with fifteen “Jesus stickers” on your car, a gold cross chain around your neck, and an “I love Jesus” tee-shirt with Scripture verses on both front and back panels — my baby step probably sounds pretty pathetic, but for me it was a start.

Maybe it would do us all well to realize two things:

1. Life is too short not to be a walking, talking, living, breathing banner for Jesus.

2. Life is also too short not to walk the walk if we talk the talk.

In the Retooled and Refueled Seminar we talk about making a change, making a start. Frankly, this is sort of exciting for me. Who knows, it may help me graduate to a bumper sticker — or even a tee-shirt.

Despite God’s promise of provision, we are not immune from the difficulties of life. The laws of physics apply to Christians just like they do to everyone. If I step off the roof while hanging Christmas ornaments, no matter how godly I am, gravity is going to take over. In a bad economy we are all susceptible to market forces.

However, as a previous employer and now a minister who travels the country teaching financial stewardship, I have some thoughts you might find helpful if you are still employed but concerned that it may not stay that way. These are some practical things you can do that may help you keep your job.

1. Earn your keep. It’s sad this even needs to be said. But today, even many Christians no longer have an honest work ethic. Most of us would agree that stealing office supplies is wrong. But some of us don’t understand that it is equally wrong to accept a day’s pay without delivering a day’s worth of work. When we’re on the boss’s clock that means we should be working for the boss. Billions of work hours are lost yearly by employees who add an extra 5 or 10 minutes to their breaks, or who spend company time buying gifts on the Internet, or who don’t hesitate to make personal phone calls when no one’s watching. This is a spiritual issue some of us need to confront.

Spiritual issues aside, in today’s tough business climate there is a practical reason for being a dedicated, conscientious worker — to keep your job. All over the country companies are cutting back. If you are not clearly helping to pull the company cart, you’re probably in it. Employees who don’t pull their own weight (and more) will tend to be the first to be laid off.

2. Understand that perception is reality. This may ruffle a few feathers, but it’s true. These days, it’s more important than ever to be your own public relations person promoting Brand You. Be sure that your boss knows what you’re doing. Be seen working. If the only time you bump into your supervisor is at the lunch room, she is likely not to understand the bucket load of duties on your daily “to do” list. Of course, done incorrectly, this can come off very badly and do more harm than good. You don’t want to be seen as a self-promoter, simply someone who is known for your diligence.

This is especially important if your job is not directly involved in generating company profits. Simply put, most firms have two groups of employees:

1. Those who make money for the company (salespeople), and…

2. Those who support them (clerical, bookkeeping, etc.)

If you are part of the support team it is especially important to put your best foot forward. Most managers hesitate to dismiss salespeople because they are clearly benefiting the company’s efforts. Not so with support people. While necessary, they are frequently viewed as “expenses” to the company’s operations. As a support person, it is wise to help the boss clearly see how you are helping the salespeople be more productive and do their thing — by effectively doing yours.

3. Be great at what you do. Strive for excellence. I used to tell my employees that if they did their job well, there would come a wonderful day for them: The day that I needed them more than they needed me! There are great dividends to be had by becoming the best in your field (or, at least the best in your office.) Take time to learn your company’s culture. Read articles in professional journals that will improve your job performance.

4. Take on extra duties. Your company is looking for team players. The more readily you accept an extra assignment, the less likely you will be to get a pink slip. There are a hundred ways to do this. Why not be the person who learns how the computer server network links the computers together? Or, be the one who knows how to fix the copier when it jams.

5. Be sympathetic. Try to put yourself into the boss’s shoes. Understand the pressures that he deals with daily. Then, look for ways to lighten his load. I think it was the famous motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, who used to say, “You can always get all that you want, if you will first help enough other people get what they want.”

6. Be a nice person. Sounds overly simplistic, doesn’t it? But the truth is, it’s hard to be tough on a really nice person that everyone likes. This is where your Christian walk will help. Just do one thing: reflect Jesus.

Will these tips save your job? No, not necessarily. But, by applying them, they will help on two levels: First, their application will lessen the likelihood you’ll be asked to leave. Second, if you are laid off you’ll know that you did everything right — and have no regrets.