tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784925270278817275.post6755223465633319872..comments2011-07-18T18:55:39.610-07:00Adam S. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205272259306114550noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784925270278817275.post-40963750868906479672011-07-18T18:55:39.611-07:002011-07-18T18:55:39.611-07:00Thanks for the link and the thoughts!<br><br>I agree with you, but, at least in my situation, all the unbelievers who are &quot;in my life&quot; on a regular basis are co-workers who do not pass beyond a professional, acquaintance-level friendship. I can very easily go to work, sit in my office, and go home day in and day out without having any conversation of real significance. I am comfortable with that and can have all of my relational needs met at home and with my believing friends.<br><br>It seems to me that the call of God presses me beyond my natural inclination to stay in my safe circle of friends. It compels me to move beyond the comfortable for the sake of the gospel. How that works out should be informed by my personality but not necessarily constrained by it.<br><br>The easiest way to work outward is, as you mention, to start with those with whom there is already some level of relationship and build on that. For me, and probably for others, even a baby step would be a step in the right direction.Paul Brownhttp://pdb.homelinux.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784925270278817275.post-52490879139342144542009-07-28T12:45:57.024-07:002009-07-28T12:45:57.024-07:00Thanks for the link and the thoughts!<br /><br />I agree with you, but, at least in my situation, all the unbelievers who are &quot;in my life&quot; on a regular basis are co-workers who do not pass beyond a professional, acquaintance-level friendship. I can very easily go to work, sit in my office, and go home day in and day out without having any conversation of real significance. I am comfortable with that and can have all of my relational needs met at home and with my believing friends.<br /><br />It seems to me that the call of God presses me beyond my natural inclination to stay in my safe circle of friends. It compels me to move beyond the comfortable for the sake of the gospel. How that works out should be informed by my personality but not necessarily constrained by it.<br /><br />The easiest way to work outward is, as you mention, to start with those with whom there is already some level of relationship and build on that. For me, and probably for others, even a baby step would be a step in the right direction.Paul Brownhttp://pdb.homelinux.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784925270278817275.post-38424346573438378562009-07-20T17:01:43.696-07:002009-07-20T17:01:43.696-07:00When I was involved in the Baptist Student Union in college I expressed the same line of thought, and I got into serious trouble for it. Many of the student leaders in the BSU were taught that in order to evangelize effectively you must go door-to-door, talking with strangers, and using a pre-set list of questions and points (a.k.a. a formula).<br /><br />I raised my objections to using man-made formulas and hunting for strangers to evangelize while completely ignoring the relationships we already have. My introversion was partly involved, but I was also concerned about how dehumanizing it is to see a possible convert as a statistic or some mindless robot that is supposed to respond to a one-size-fits-all formula.Paulhttp://www.myspace.com/psappington82noreply@blogger.com