Much of the world you enjoy is run by volunteers. Someone is donating their time for that art program, sports program, music program, political program and whatever else it is that you or your kids enjoy. Someone is donating time at the library. Someone else is giving their time at the Church. All while others give their time elsewhere.

I used to think that where you gave your money was the biggest indicator of the priorities in your life. That is still very true. It is a struggle to get people to donate their money to anything. But lately, I am seeing time as the biggest indicator of your priorities. The place you give your time has the greatest level of importance in your life.

I have talked with numerous people who will give me cash or write me a check who would not give me a minute of their time. In fact, one of my biggest struggles is to get volunteers. It is much harder to get volunteers than to get money. It doesn’t matter whether it is a school event, a sports event or even a Church event. People are stingy with their time.

Where you spend your free time maybe the greatest indicator of the priorities you have placed in your life.

So my hat is off to everyone who volunteers. Thanks for your time.

Years ago when I started blogging every Monday I would have a post entitled “Mind Dump” and I would list all the random things going on in my head and in my life. Well, today is a Monday where I have a lot on my mind so I am going to list a lot of random stuff.

1. My son took a field trip last week. I joined them for part of the trip. As I stand back and watch everything I realized how much of a control freak I am at times. I get frustrated when things are poorly run.

2. I spent two hours of my life helping kids build “cookie cutter” bird feeders. Funny part, I think they were all thrown away the next day – or at least just thrown outside and never taken home. Two hours of my life I will never get back

3. I listed to everyone talking while I was on this field trip. I realized there are phrases I have never used and never plan on it. “Take a chill pill” from the mouth of a 40-year-old lacks something.

4. Dakota and I watched a hit and run Friday night. One of the most interesting moments of the last few weeks while I watched a guy hit the back corner of another car and then speed off. Two other cars went in pursuit and we saw the police finally catch the guy. Still was an almost unbelievable event.

5. Youth football season is over. I am 99% finished with everything. What a relief.

6. My boys and I have finally passed the $100 mark in our metal detector finds. $102.60 as of this moment. That is just in coins. People lose a lot of money everywhere.

7. I will never understand some people. I am reminded of this at least once a week.

8. Preaching a sermon – even a pretty good sermon – to a group of people who are tired is tough. Some weeks are just like rolling a boulder up hill.

9. I treasure every moment with my family. They are my shelter from the world.

10. The Packers won again. Always makes me happy.

Here is another post on the topic of evangelism. Here are four simple reasons that Christians need to share their faith.

1. Jesus is the only way to God. See John 14:5-6, Acts 4:12 & 1 Timothy 2:5-6. I believe this is true. As a result I need to make sure everyone comes to follow Jesus if I want them to be in heaven.

2. Jesus came down from God to bring man to God. Most people have figured out their own religion and it is usually the same. It goes like this; I need to do better and better and hopefully I will one day reach God. Then he will be happy with my efforts and let me into his heaven. Christianity is very different from what we might figure out on our own. God comes down to man because we will never be good enough to reach God on our own.

2. Christianity is based on a historical event. We believe that Jesus came and lived and died as a historical event. We would not know history without someone telling us what happened. We cannot figure out the past on our own. No one can, so we need to explain what Jesus did back then. See 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. The apostles did not just teach what they believed, they taught what they believe happened.

4. Without Jesus there is judgment. If Jesus is the only way to heaven then those who do not follow him are on a different path leading to a different place. I believe this place is a real place called hell. In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells about a rich man and Lazarus. In verses 27-28 the rich man is very concerned about this brothers. He does not want them to come to this place of torment. There is this simple truth, the people in hell want us to tell other people about Jesus so that they do not end up there.

I believe there are other reasons to share our faith, but these are four big motivations…at least for me. I hope they are for my class and maybe for you.

Today I began teaching a class on Personal Evangelism at the local Bible Institute – ABI I teach every Thursday in the morning for a couple of hours. So I decided that for the next several weeks I will blog about what I am teaching there in class.

Today I started with introductions and then I dove into what I consider a definitive passage on evangelism. This is the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:3-9 and explanation in 19:18-23. (Go read it!) I have often referred to this as the parable of the soils, but Jesus explains that it is actually a parable about a sower. With that said, here are seven lessons on evangelism from Matthew 13.

1. The owner wants a full harvest. If you are a farmer you want to harvest as much as possible.

2. Someone must do the work of planting for the owner. Who will sow the seed of God?

3. Everyone is one type of soil. Can this ever change?

4. We are to spread the seed everywhere This farmer throws his seed in some unlikely places. It is as if he is not sure which soil will produce a harvest.

5. Not everyone will respond positively I hate this, but 25% are hard soil.

6. Not all people who respond will mature. I hate this more. 50% of the people who come to the Lord are shallow or will let life crowd out their faith.

7. A few will be very productive. I love this. One life can touch so many.

I believe that within this one parable and its explanation we have all the basics for understanding for sharing our faith. There are some tough truths but also some unbelievable results.