{"id":302028,"date":"2010-05-05T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-05-05T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/making-yourself-available\/"},"modified":"2010-05-05T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2010-05-05T15:00:00","slug":"making-yourself-available","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/making-yourself-available\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Yourself Available"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you find it difficult to have a spiritual conversation with someone?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2010-05-05.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:","filesize":"23.33M","filesize_raw":"24462343","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2821],"tags":[4722,4818,4159],"podcast_series":[7724],"cwp_profile":[3423],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-302028","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reaching-out","tag-christianity","tag-evangelism","tag-gospel","podcast_series-entertaining-for-eternity","cwp_profile-nan-mccullough","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/302028\/making-yourself-available","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/302028\/making-yourself-available","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"CEidpj1l0e\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/making-yourself-available\/\">Making Yourself Available<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/making-yourself-available\/embed\/#?secret=CEidpj1l0e\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Making Yourself Available&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"CEidpj1l0e\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var 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someone?","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2010-05-05.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>You know the Scriptures tell us we are just supposed to be salt and light.\u00a0 What does salt do?\u00a0 It makes you thirsty.\u00a0 What does it also do?\u00a0 It preserves the environment.\u00a0 As you are moving about whatever walk of life you have\u2014you could be a single woman in an office\u2014people are watching you.\u00a0 They know there is something different about you.\u00a0 They are already thirsty; just have them over.\u00a0 God will show you; He will give you the words to say.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Wednesday, May 5th.\u00a0 Our host is the President of FamilyLife Dennis Rainey, and I\u2019m Bob Lepine.\u00a0 I am going to be honest with you.\u00a0 We are hoping that what we talk about today can maybe provide a little motivation for you to open up your home and your heart for someone you know.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWelcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>; thanks for joining us on the Wednesday edition.\u00a0 Before we dive into what we want to talk about today, you wanted to speak to some of our listeners, some of our friends.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>First, I just want to thank our current donors to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> who make this ministry possible.\u00a0 There are some legacy partners who give monthly, some long-term friends who stood with us for years, and some brand new donors who I just want to turn to and say, \u201cYou know what, I really appreciate you.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tA second thing I would like to do is I\u2019d like to challenge you to join with us by making a donation to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> now; and to encourage you to do that now, some friends have offered to match your gift dollar for dollar.\u00a0 I would like to encourage you to do is go to FamilyLifeToday.com.\u00a0 There is a little button up in the right-hand corner.\u00a0 Click on that; it says, \u201cDonate.\u201d\u00a0 Then give as God has enabled you to give.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>As you said, if you make a donation this month, it is going to be doubled, dollar for dollar, up to a total of now more than $300,000 that has been given to us in a matching-gift fund from friends of FamilyLife.\u00a0 Take advantage of the matching-gift opportunity.\u00a0 Make your donation today at FamilyLifeToday.com or call us at 1-800-FL-TODAY and you can make your donation over the phone.\u00a0 Again, we appreciate your support of the ministry and your partnership here with us on <em>FamilyLifeToday<\/em>.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, can I give just a word of testimony related to what we are talking about this week here on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Food?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>(laughter)\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>You have given several testimonies about food.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>This really doesn\u2019t have anything to do about food.\u00a0 This goes all the way back to when I was a college student.\u00a0 I\u2019ll tell two stories, okay?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFirst story was:\u00a0 I had just come to faith and was thinking about going to graduate school in southern California.\u00a0 I was thinking about going to law school.\u00a0 I wanted to check out Pepperdine Law School.\u00a0 I had never been to southern California\u2014didn\u2019t know anyone in southern California\u2014but I had a friend who said, \u201cOver spring break, let\u2019s road trip out there.\u00a0 I know these people we can stay with.\u00a0 You can check out Pepperdine, and we\u2019ll just stay out there.\u201d\u00a0 So, college\u2014road trip\u2014free accommodations\u2014I\u2019m all about that, right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Well, we pulled into Pasadena\u2014into this neighborhood, into these folks\u2019 driveway.\u00a0 I remember I had been in their house for ten minutes and I felt comfortable\u2014and I felt like they didn\u2019t know me from anywhere\u2014but they were so warm and acted like they were just thrilled to have me stay there.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Had they given you access to their refrigerator?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>(laughter)\u00a0 Not yet.\u00a0 (laughter)\u00a0 But the thing was\u2014I remember lying in bed that night and going, \u201cThese are just the nicest people.\u201d\u00a0 I remember thinking, \u201cAre all Christians this nice?\u00a0 Can you just go stay at anybody\u2019s house, and it\u2019s this nice?\u201d\u00a0 It was one of those testimonies to the power of hospitality, which reminded me of another story.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat was when we got an invitation to come hear about a church that was getting started in our community.\u00a0 It was going to be on a Saturday night at somebody\u2019s home.\u00a0 They said, \u201cWe\u2019re making homemade ice cream.\u201d\u00a0 I said, \u201cI\u2019m there for that.\u00a0 The church-thing, maybe; but the ice cream, I\u2019m all about that.\u201d\u00a0 (laughter)\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>But the point you are making, Bob, is that our homes can really have an open door.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0A sense of welcoming people, whether they are on a journey\u2014traveling across the country or a journey in life\u2014they feel at-home in your place.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>The open door makes a statement.\u00a0 It is a powerful statement about what is important to you.\u00a0 That opens another door for you to have all kinds of conversations.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>That is what our guest has been doing for the past\u2014well more than 30 years\u2014using her home.\u00a0 Nan McCullough joins us again on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\u00a0 Nan welcome back.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Thank you.\u00a0 Glad to be back.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>She has written a book called <em>Entertaining for Eternity with Heavenly Hospitality.<\/em>\u00a0 You are actually entertaining with a purpose.\u00a0 You do want people to feel welcomed and safe; but you also have an ulterior motive.\u00a0 Do you not?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Well, I wouldn\u2019t go that far.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>No?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>You don\u2019t want people to feel like they are a \u201cproject\u201d and you are getting notches on your Bible for having them in.\u00a0 You want people to feel like you really care about them.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>And you really do care about them.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>I really do.\u00a0 I really do.\u00a0 I\u2019m passionate about what Jesus has done in my life, and I want to share it with other people.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>When you invite people over to the house, in the back of your mind, there is this thought that at some point, at the right point, you\u2019d love to engage in a spiritual conversation, right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Well, Jesus is the most important thing in my life.\u00a0 I can\u2019t hide Him.\u00a0 He just leaks out.\u00a0 (laughter)\u00a0 You know.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>What are some of the ways that that door gets opened when you are practicing hospitality?\u00a0 Just think back on times people have been in your home\u2014how is it that the spiritual conversations begin to emerge?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>First of all, you\u2019ve got to get to know them and listen, listen, listen.\u00a0 You can\u2019t scratch a person where they itch if you don\u2019t know where they itch.\u00a0 I do that with questions.\u00a0 You get to know where they are.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSomebody asked me last night, \u201cWell, how do you know what to say?\u00a0 How do you get into the gospel?\u201d\u00a0 Every situation is different because every person is different.\u00a0 That is why we call it a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.\u00a0 While you are listening, you are looking for clues about their life\u2014of where they might be hurting, or where they might be mad at God, or what they are struggling with.\u00a0 Then you show them gently how the gospel might be the balm or the salve that they need for that area of their life.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe Scripture tells us.\u00a0 Jesus says in Matthew 10:19, 20, \u201cDon\u2019t worry about what to say or how to say it.\u00a0 At the time, you will be given what to say for it will not be you speaking but it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.\u201d\u00a0 Then Peter says later in one of his epistles\u2014he says, \u201cAlways be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you\u2014to give you a reason for the hope that is within you.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHopefully, you build a relationship to a point where they will want to know, \u201cThere is something different about this home.\u00a0 There is something different about this family.\u00a0 I want to know what it is.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Do people actually say that to you?\u00a0 \u201cThere is something different\u2026\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Yes.\u00a0 In different ways.\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>How would one of those conversations\u2014just think of one that has happened over the last five years.\u00a0 How would one of those conversations have emerged?\u00a0 What did a friend say to you, and how did you respond?\u00a0 Do you remember?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>I have so many stories in my head.\u00a0 Give me a second here.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>While you are thinking about that, I just want to reinforce something you said because I think sometimes when we are given the responsibility of sharing our faith, we immediately don\u2019t think of questions, we think of declarations, or statements that we are going to make to somebody.\u00a0 \u201cThis is the truth about you.\u00a0 You need to know what the Scriptures say about this, and this, and this.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>\u201cThese are the laws.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Exactly.\u00a0 (laughter)\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>I thought I\u2019d throw that in for my Campus Crusade\u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong><em>The Four Spiritual Laws<\/em>.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Yes; right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>In all seriousness, to get into that conversation, the questions that you ask really help you determine where you build your bridge to ultimately meet that person where they are.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Right.\u00a0 And everyone is different.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>They are.\u00a0 I have used questions for a number of years.\u00a0 I think questions are disarming.\u00a0 People love to talk and tell you about themselves.\u00a0 When you ask a question, you are asking for their opinion.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you think about this?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>It says to them, \u201cOh, he thinks I am a person of worth.\u00a0 I am valuable in his eyes.\u00a0 He cares about me.\u201d\u00a0 Then, when you remember some of the things they shared with you when you see them on the street or in a coffee shop later; and you say, \u201cHow is your grandmother doing?\u00a0 I have been praying for her,\u201d that is the most powerful thing you can do for a non-believer is to pray for them.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Can you think about one of those times when the door started to crack open and you said, \u201cI think it is time to have this conversation.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>I remember when these neighbors had moved in.\u00a0 I had taken my welcome gift, and we talked across the fence and so forth, and it got to be the week before Christmas.\u00a0 I thought, \u201cMaybe these guys would like to have some homemade cookies.\u201d\u00a0 I looked around my kitchen; I had been making cookies for my kids.\u00a0 I put them on a plate and went over and knocked on their door.\u00a0 One of them came to the door.\u00a0 I said, \u201cI wanted to give you some homemade Christmas cookies.\u201d\u00a0 He said, \u201cOh thank you.\u00a0 That is so wonderful,\u201d and all the small talk.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019m standing there on his front stoop.\u00a0 It hit me.\u00a0 \u201cInvite him to Christmas Eve service.\u201d\u00a0 I thought, \u201cWell, surely, they are not going to want to come.\u201d\u00a0 I knew enough about them that I didn\u2019t think they were interested in spiritual things.\u00a0 I said, \u201cWell, would you like to go to a Christmas Eve carol and candle light service with us on Christmas Eve?\u201d\u00a0 The guy came unglued.\u00a0 He said, \u201cI\u2019d love to!\u201d\u00a0 He says, \u201cLet me ask my partner and get back to you.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo Christmas Eve, they went with us to church.\u00a0 Of course, the gospel was preached.\u00a0 I said\u2014well you know it was another one of those years when two older kids were off spending Christmas Eve with their in-laws and I just had my younger son\u2014and so I said, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you come back to the house and we\u2019ll light a fire in the fireplace and have some more Christmas cookies.\u201d\u00a0 We made hot fudge sundaes.\u00a0 It became a tradition.\u00a0 They came every Christmas Eve.\u00a0 Some Christmas Eves, the whole gang was there, sitting in two pews\u2019 worth.\u00a0 They were right there with us.\u00a0 Other Christmases, it was simpler.\u00a0 As long as they lived next door, they came for Christmas Eve.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>You are talking about two people that weren\u2019t religious.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>That\u2019s right.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>They probably weren\u2019t in church any other Sunday during the year.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>No.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>It just was a simple matter of asking if they wanted to go with you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>That\u2019s right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Now, I want to talk about how you turn the conversation.\u00a0 Let\u2019s say you\u2019ve asked a few questions; you know where that other person is.\u00a0 How do you ultimately share your own personal journey and how you came to Christ because you came to faith as a child, not as an adult?\u00a0 Talk to our listener right now just as someone that you might have a conversation going in your kitchen and how you might get into your testimony.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>You have to wait for the nudge of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 There have been times when I have gone in too fast, too hard, and they weren\u2019t ready.\u00a0 But when I sense the nudge of the Holy Spirit, that this person is ready to hear the truth, I\u2019ll say, \u201cYou know, I\u2019ve got a little booklet that explains what I did as a young woman.\u00a0 It only takes five minutes for me to read it to you.\u00a0 It is called, \u2018<em>Would you like to know God personally?\u2019<\/em>\u00a0 Would you mind if I share that booklet with you?\u201d\u00a0 I just turn the thing upside down.\u00a0 A lot of times they\u2019ll say, \u201cBoy, you read well upside down.\u201d\u00a0 (laughter)\u00a0 I just share it.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI remember one time in a Starbucks\u2014I\u2019m sharing Christ and the booklet.\u00a0 The guy is over here\u2014what do you call him?\u2014the barista?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>He is over there making steamed whatever.\u00a0 Kerrrrr!\u00a0 You know.\u00a0 He\u2019s looking and kind of straining his neck.\u00a0 I\u2019m going, \u201cI think he is listening to us,\u201d but I had to say, \u201cI\u2019m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.\u00a0 I\u2019m just going to do this.\u00a0 I don\u2019t care about this guy.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThere was a break in our conversation and I said, \u201cLet\u2019s see if we can get a refill on our mochas.\u201d\u00a0 I went up, and he gave us free mochas!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Wow!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>She had just prayed to receive Christ in front of him.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t(laughter)\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>One of the things you talk about in your book is reaching out to children.\u00a0 You became a follower of Christ ultimately when you began to place your faith in him as a nine-year-old.\u00a0 You\u2019ve also used a very common tool\u2014the <em>Jesus<\/em> film\u2014to reach out to children to be able to introduce them to Christ.\u00a0 What is it that you do?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>It is the easiest evangelism anyone can do!\u00a0 You have a video player?\u00a0 You have a popcorn popper?\u00a0 You have some kids in the neighborhood?\u00a0 You can lead them to Christ.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you just kick the front door open and invite them to watch the movie?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat <em>Jesus<\/em> film for children is fabulous because what they have done is artfully woven a fiction story into the gospel and the life-story of Jesus.\u00a0 You have these four or five kids who are living in that day and age.\u00a0 They are talking about Jesus.\u00a0 These kids\u2014they see Him out there\u2014and they show a clip of some of what Jesus is doing\u2014and then the kids talk about it.\u00a0 They grapple with all the basic apologetic questions.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThey are typical kids; they are having a fight.\u00a0 Then one little boy\u2019s father is a Pharisee; and he says, \u201cWe\u2019re Jews, and we don\u2019t believe Jesus is our Messiah,\u201d and all the stuff is in the movie.\u00a0 At the end of the movie, two of the kids come on the screen\u2014a boy and a girl.\u00a0 These kids have now just watched Jesus die on the cross and rise from the dead.\u00a0 The boy\u2014I think it is the boy\u2014turns to them and says to the audience, \u201cNow you\u2019ve seen us make our decision about Jesus.\u00a0 What about you?\u201d\u00a0 The children who were the fictional characters lead the children in your family room to Christ.\u00a0 They have a \u201cPray with me.\u201d\u00a0 The words go slowly across the screen and the children in your family room can accept Christ.\u00a0 All you had to do is pop popcorn and turn on the TV.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>So you would pass these invitations out to children all over the neighborhood and maybe, on a Saturday morning or Saturday afternoon, you might have a party for them?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Yes.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>You would just invite them into the home?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Right.\u00a0 You can do it over Christmas and call it a \u201cBirthday party for Jesus.\u201d\u00a0 You can do it over Easter and call it a \u201cCome find out what Easter is all about\u201d; or you can have just a \u201cCelebrate Jesus\u201d party and have them in.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>It is a great idea.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>You talk about in your book about some of the common fears that keep people from engaging in hospitality and in sharing their faith.\u00a0 What are those?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Oh, \u201cI don\u2019t have a nice enough house;\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t know how to cook;\u201d I\u2019m not an outgoing person;\u201d you name it.\u00a0 They just keep coming.\u00a0 I had a task force\u2014young women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s all over the country.\u00a0 I emailed back and forth.\u00a0 We had conference calls.\u00a0 I said, \u201cWhat is it you are afraid of?\u201d\u00a0 Some was, \u201cMy mother never did anything.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know how to do it.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>So if somebody says to you, \u201cI don\u2019t have a nice enough house.\u201d\u00a0 What do you say?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>You just use what God has given you.\u00a0 He is not asking you for a <em>Better Homes and Garden<\/em> house.\u00a0 He is asking you for availability.\u00a0 Just use the simple home you have.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>\u201cBut I\u2019m not a good cook.\u00a0 What do I do?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Go to the grocery store and buy store-bought cake.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t(laughter)\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Stouffer\u2019s.\u00a0 She told us earlier, Bob.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>That\u2019s right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Stouffer\u2019s.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>You go to the grocery store and you say, \u201cWould you put \u2018Happy Birthday Jesus\u2019 on this cake?\u00a0 I\u2019m having the neighborhood kids over.\u201d\u00a0 The next thing you know, you are witnessing to the lady in the grocery store.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>\u201cBut I\u2019m shy.\u00a0 I\u2019m not an out-going person like Nan McCullough.\u00a0 I mean, she\u2019s all over this thing.\u00a0 I\u2019m not like you.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>You know, the Scriptures tell us that we are just supposed to be salt and light.\u00a0 What does salt do?\u00a0 It makes you thirsty.\u00a0 What does it also do?\u00a0 It preserves the environment.\u00a0 As you are moving about whatever walk of life you have\u2014you could be a single woman in an office\u2014people are watching you.\u00a0 They know there is something different about you.\u00a0 They are already thirsty.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf you have had a lifestyle that is different than yours, they are curious.\u00a0 Just have them over and order pizza from the local delivery guy.\u00a0 Watch a show on TV or a game, if it is a bunch of guys.\u00a0 Just build that relationship, and God will show you.\u00a0 He will give you the words to say.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>One of the things I\u2019m concerned about, Nan.\u00a0 You\u2019ve beautifully demonstrated it here\u2014is that people who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ ought to be talking about Him to other people as they walk by the way, as they invite people into their home\u2014not by way of shoving it down their throats\u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>No.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 But winsomely from a genuine heart being interested in where the other person really is.\u00a0 A few moments ago you quoted this scripture but I want to read all of it.\u00a0 In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said you are the salt of the earth but if salt has lost its taste how shall its saltiness be restored?\u00a0 It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people\u2019s feet.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou are the light of the world.\u00a0 A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.\u00a0 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a stand.\u00a0 It gives light to all in the house.\u00a0 In the same way let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNan McCullough you are doing that.\u00a0 You really are.\u00a0 You are a great exhortation to all of us to be ready to give an account of our faith and be thinking about the eternal destiny of our family, our friends, and our neighbors.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong>\u00a0 You bring to mind something that a lot of people are probably thinking right now and I\u2019ve had said to my face.\u00a0 Oh, Nan McCullough you are a professional Christian worker.\u00a0 You\u2019re on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ.\u00a0 You can do this.\u00a0 This is easy.\u00a0 You\u2019ve been trained to do this.\u00a0 They want to use the excuse \u201cI don\u2019t have the gift of evangelism or I don\u2019t have the gift of hospitality.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou know what?\u00a0 I don\u2019t have the gift of mercy.\u00a0 Does that let me off the hook when someone is dying or sick?\u00a0 Am I supposed to be cold and callused?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI was talking to a former Crusade staff worker a number of years ago and we were grappling with this whole spiritual gift issue and discussing who has what kind of gift and you can tell what somebody\u2019s gift is.\u00a0 Dave said to me, \u201cJesus was the perfect blending of all gifts and we are to become more Christ like.\u201d\u00a0 That means we are supposed to be developing in the areas where we are least gifted.\u00a0 So I have to work on my mercy and maybe you have to work on your evangelism or you have to work on your hospitality but none of us are off the hook.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong>\u00a0 Because the goal in the Christian life is becoming more Christ like. I keep going back to God is not looking for ability.\u00a0 He\u2019s looking for availability.\u00a0 He\u2019s looking for a heart that says Lord, I\u2019m no good at this and I get tongue tied but I just want to be used of you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou know what?\u00a0 He is going to bring people across your path if you pray that.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>I want to encourage our listeners to get a copy of Nan\u2019s book and fire up the home fires to make the house or your apartment more inviting.<strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>When you do that pray for Sam and Nan McCullough for their ministry inside the beltway to our nation\u2019s leaders that God would grant them favor and that they might be able to introduce many of them to faith in Jesus Christ.\u00a0 Nan, I want to say thanks for being on the broadcast and coming and sharing your heart and your life and for exhorting all of us.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong>\u00a0 Thank you Dennis.\u00a0 I hope I\u2019ve encouraged many people to kick open that front door and offer a cup of cold water in Jesus\u2019 name.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 And thanks for putting recipes in the back of the book too.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t(laughter)\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 You have Bob\u2019s heart on that.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 When it all comes down to it it\u2019s about food isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Let\u2019s get right where it belongs.\u00a0 We have copies of Nan\u2019s book in our FamilyLife Resource Center.\u00a0 Go online at FamilyLifeToday.com.\u00a0 It\u2019s called <em>Entertaining for Eternity With Heavenly Hospitality<\/em>.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAs far as I know I think we are the only place online where you can get the book.\u00a0 It\u2019s a couple of hundred pages long with full color pictures on every page.\u00a0 You\u2019ve done a great job with this book and I think a lot of women are going to enjoy looking through it.\u00a0 I know Mary Ann has enjoyed reading through your book and she has gotten a lot out of it as well.\u00a0 Again go online at FamilyLifeToday.com. Or call 1-800-FL-TODAY and ask for Nan\u2019s book.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow it may be that some of our listeners were not with us at the beginning of today\u2019s program.\u00a0 You mentioned the matching gift fund that has been established for us here at FamilyLife during the month of May.\u00a0 We had some friends of the ministry who came to us and said they wanted to motivate <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> listeners to donate to the ministry and help support us and keep us on the air on this station.\u00a0 They made pledges to this matching gift fund and they have agreed to match every donation we receive on a dollar for dollar basis during the month of May.\u00a0 If we don\u2019t\u2019 get donations from you then these folks are off the hook and they don\u2019t have to fulfill their matching gift donation.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo we hope to hear from as many listeners as possible this month with whatever amount you are able to do\u2014a $25 or $50 or $100 or $1000 or $5000 donation.\u00a0 Whatever you are able to do to help support the ministry that donation is going to be matched on a dollar for dollar during the month of May.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou can go to FamilyLifeToday.com to make an online donation.\u00a0 Or you can call 1-800-FL-TODAY to make your donation over the phone.\u00a0 Keep in mind those donations are going to be matched so we do hope to hear from you.\u00a0 We want to say in advance we appreciate your partnership and thanks for listening to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> and thanks for helping to support the ministry.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe want to invite you back tomorrow when Brian Haynes is going to join us.\u00a0 We are going to talk about a shift that is taking place in many churches in terms of the way they do student ministries.\u00a0 A shift that is more family centered.\u00a0 We\u2019ll talk about that tomorrow.\u00a0 I hope you can be with us.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today Keith Lynch and our entire broadcast production team on behalf of our host Dennis Rainey I\u2019m Bob Lepine.\u00a0 We will see you back tomorrow for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHelp for today.\u00a0 Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts for you. However, there is a cost to transcribe, create, and produce them for our website. If you've benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright \u00a9 FamilyLife. 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