Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

>	What do you believe to be the most convincing approach to winning
>the hearts and minds of others?  What approach would most likely convince
>you?

	Different things work with different people. At different times 
	different things work with me.

			Alfred

My mother-in-law, Wilma, was telling me that this subject came up at 
the UCC church they attend in Athol, Ma last Sunday.  The sermon 
was on Evangelizing by focusing on getting the people into the church 
and the church would win them over from there.

The hymn that was song apparently was on that same theme.  After the 
service, spunky Wilma (age 82) rewrote the words and submitted them to 
the minister.  I can't remember the words but the gist was about 
listening and sharing in the other person's story so that all could 
share in the unity of God rather than an attitude of I know what's 
best for you and trying to drag the other person into church.

The minister liked the verse Wilma had written and plans to utilize 
it in a future service.

Ro

Genuinely, we humans are complicated creatures and there are multiple ways
in which we can be influenced, persuaded and convinced.

For myself, I find I am generally more inclined to listen to and take
seriously people who have courageously made themselves vulnerable through
self-disclosure.  (I think this is one of the reasons why the personal
testimony, the personal witness, can be so powerful.)

I am drawn to the strongest light, the most extraordinary example, the one
who possesses the most profound commitment to the most impossible dream.
I am drawn to the lover, the poet, the tender-hearted and the uncompromisingly
compassionate.  I am drawn to the visionary.

I am less inclined to embrace the thoughts of the one who is cold, aloof, and
distant.  I tend to resist by impulse the words of the one who pontificates,
lectures at me, and treats me as though I am less than equal.  I fear the
truth may sometimes be eclipsed for me by the manner in which it is issued.

Peace,
Richard

    RE: .3
    
    Agreed Richard. I find that when someone trys to "pontificate" at
    me, I just tune out the person. In my case, it is most likely in
    part, due to an overbearing father. 
    
    Although I'm not always in agreement, I do find personal statements,
    as those made by some in here (i.e. Karen B. comments) to be powerful
    and able to reach right into me. Doesn't mean that I agree with their
    decisions, but I sure do listen.
    
    Marc 

    This topic reminds me of the parable of the seeds.  Some were sown in
    good soil, some in bad soil, some in gravel.  The fact that the seeds
    sown in bad soil or gravel didn't bear fruit bore no reflection on the
    quality of the seed, but on the skills and knowledge of the gardner who
    planted the seed.  
    
    To me, what this translates to in this case is that if you want your
    word to be heard and your seed to bear good fruit then you better be 
    careful how you plant and nurture those seeds.  Watering your seeds
    with yesterday's soap or refusing to care for the plants because they
    aren't growing fast enough is unlikely to produce a good yeild.  On the
    other hand, treating the plants with love and respect for the life they
    bear will more than likely product an abudant harvest.
    
    Nanci

re: Note 553.2 by Ro "Formerly Flaherty" 

>                I can't remember the words but the gist was about 
>listening and sharing in the other person's story so that all could 
>share in the unity of God rather than an attitude of I know what's 
>best for you and trying to drag the other person into church.

Wilma sounds like a wise woman to me.

There's a poster at my church on evangelism.  It says, quite simply

		Go		Listen		   Tell

In that order.  
Go to where people are, don't drag them to you.
Then Listen to their story, get to know them.
Then Tell your story.  Don't preach, don't condemn, just share your story.
It will speak for itself.

And like Nanci said about the parable of the seeds.  The best a gardener can 
do is supply good soil, water, and tender loving care.  Skill is needed; some 
seeds are drowned by the water that would wither another, others need sandy 
soil while some need rich black earth.  And ultimately, the gardener can't
*make* the seed grow. 

There's a story (I forget where it originally came from) of a man who came
upon a butterfly chrysalis.  The butterfly was struggling to get out, so the
man very carefully cut open the chrysalis to help the butterfly out.  Then the
butterfly was struggling to spread its newly formed wings, so the man did all
he could to warm the butterfly and help straighten its wings.  And the 
butterfly died.  Because the struugle to exit the chrysalis was necessary to 
develop the butterfly's strength, and the effort to spread its wings was 
neccessary for it to adapt to flight.

Walking a mile in another's shoes doesn't mean you remove their struggles in 
life, only that you gain appreciation of those struggles and better learn how 
to love them.

Peace,

Jim

    A beautiful note, Jim.  Thanks.
    
    Karen

Jim,

<<Walking a mile in another's shoes doesn't mean you remove their struggles in 
<<life, only that you gain appreciation of those struggles and better learn how 
<<to love them.

Thanks for the lovely story and especially this last paragraph.  It 
hits home for me with a situation I'm currently struggling with.

Ro

Jim,

<<Walking a mile in another's shoes doesn't mean you remove their struggles in 
<<life, only that you gain appreciation of those struggles and better learn how 
<<to love them.

   Good words, experience teaches me.  It is the struggle to live that 
   defines life.

   Allison

    "Force makes hypocrites, 'tis persuasion only that makes converts."
    
    	-- William Penn