“That’s right. We grew potatoes for McCain foods.”

“Have you ever been in a McCain’s commercial? No? That’s sad, you’re very photogenic.” It was the beginning of an interview filled with gushing compliments from Drew. Well-deserved? We think so.

The Drew Marshall Show is Canada’s most listened to spiritual talk show. Most of Drew’s audience would be familiar with the name Campus Crusade for Christ, but the seven year-old name Power to Change is foreign to most.

“What happened with the name change?”

“I didn’t really like the name,” replied Leonard – and he wasn’t alone. “One time on the plane, someone asked me who I worked for. I showed him my business card and he was immediately put off. It wasn’t working so we began the search for a new name.”

The Power to Change rebrand, among other initiatives, are a result of the reality that traditional methods of evangelism are relatively ineffective in Canada.

One example of modernization at Power to Change is their fastest growing ministry, TruthMedia, who connects with people online.

Drew had done some homework. “Your website. It reeks of being in touch with the culture. Most ministry websites look like an eighty year-old librarian put them together.”

“We call it a CCRG website,” continued Leonard. “Connecting current realities to God. We’ve often debated, should our website be about us or people? I’ve fought for it to be about the people. Over the last 18 months, we’ve switched to video based ministry – about 2000 videos. Short messages, with text, that engages people.”

Another successful CCRG initiative was formed in a partnership between Leonard and Erwin McManus: author, lecturer and pastor at Mosaic Church in LA.

“We became friends five or six years ago. I liked his book Crave. I said to him, ‘I’ll take 60,000 to start with.’ We used them on the university campuses and they were very effective. It gave us a different angle of approach to start talking about God. Previous messages started at the wrong place. The idea of the book and the reference to ‘cravings’ is that seven billion people all have the same meaning.”

It was in line with Drew’s agenda-less personal policy. “It’s a smart move, when you’re starting a conversation, to not come at it by agenda. People are already trying to sniff out agenda. But if you can just keep it focused on our needs as people…”

“Right. It puts us as equals.” You would think they were reading a script, these two.

“You have the ability to see big picture and details as well. With those gifts, how do you see the big picture of the Christian world?” asked Drew. As per usual, he dug for some dirt: “I’m sure there are a few things that frustrate you?”

“Of course. As you look across the evangelical world in Canada, there is a lot more grey hair than young hair and you wonder, why is that? Most Christians struggle with how to even talk about God.” Leonard’s frustrations could be boiled down to a lack of evangelism – a hoarding of hope. But instead of lamenting, he’s busy doing something about it. “What’s frustrating is that so many Christians want to talk about God in a meaningful way. One of the goals I have is to help people along that journey.”

Leonard discussed the amazing relationship he had with his father – a man who always put God first. It was clear to Drew, as well as listeners, that to Mr. Buhler Sr., caring about God meant caring for people.

“I get the distinct impression that you guys put others before yourselves.”

Leonard grouped all Christians into the compliment intended for him. “When we understand what Jesus has done for us and the freedom we have in him, the best way to respond is to care about others.”

Things eventually turned to current events. “There is a little project that’s happening. 35 Day Challenge? Help us wrap our heads around that.”

“Sure. Over 35 days we’ll train you to change the lives of three people, offering them redemption and hope. It will give you a whole new scope of life. Every day you’ll get an email with an action point. For example, the first week will teach you to cultivate a redemptive vision. We have people around us every day – they are hurting and struggling, but do we actually care enough to care about them?

“Leonard, I don’t care.” He played the devil’s advocate to represent a portion of his more cynical listeners, and perhaps even himself.

“We’re going to try to help you care.”

“But what is going to make me sign up?”

“I think deep down inside, most people do care, but no one is actually challenging them, setting the bar high enough. Intuitively, people want to make a difference.”

It was enough for Drew. “I like Leonard Buhler because he’s a meat and potatoes kind of guy.” Thankfully, the compliment was expanded. “He’s down-to-earth; you can hear it in his voice. The guy actually cares. It’s about God, and what does that mean? If it’s about God then it’s about people.”

Well said.

“My sheep listen to my voice…” (John 10:27a)

 God speaks. That could be the end of this devotional.

The gravity of that statement is enough to meditate on for a long, long time. God is actively engaging with his people in a personal and loving way. He is communicating. Amen!

 What does that mean for us? One of the simplest conclusions that can be made about such a vast truth is that we must listen.

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

How do we come to know the Lord’s voice? First of all, we must listen. We must be patient and still as we wait upon the Lord.

But coming to know the Lord’s voice is a learning process as well. As we learn to listen we will inevitably make mistakes, but there are checks and balances along the way that can help us.

• Is the voice consistent with scripture and the character of God?
• Is the voice confirmed by wise guides?
• Is the voice aligned with inexplicably coordinating circumstances?

We listen, we learn, and we discern, but may we always come back to the fact that the God who created the whole world is speaking to you and me.

God, thank you for speaking. Thank you for your words and their life-giving presence. Holy Spirit, help me discern the one true voice amidst the many false ones. Amen.

 Question: Does the thought of God speaking to you on a personal level amaze you? How could you be a better listener?

I wake up. The cold dampness drips down the wall and pools on the hewn rock that serves as my bed tonight. It was a horrible dream.

Or am I still dreaming? My eyes blurrily take in a huge man… it’s so bright – or he is bright – or something… Will these visions never cease to torment me?

“Get up.”

God, why? Why do you plague me with visions of my death and then bring before me false hope in yet another dream? I have tried to serve you and this is what I get: agony of the mind.

Louder: “Get up!”

Upon this rock you will build your church? What rock? The condemned’s refuse and dank mold is all that grows upon this chamber of death.

The man kicks me – hard. “I SAID GET UP!” Instantly, locks click and both sets of chains fall off my ankles. “Let’s go. We’ve got about two minutes.”

This dream feels real, but then again, don’t all dreams? After all, my chains simply fell off of their own accord. Definitely a dream. The man looks like he will kick me again so I sleepily stumble to the stairs to avoid another blow to the ribs. “Put on your shoes and jacket Peter. It’s cold outside and you’ve got a long walk ahead of you. Move!”

How does he know my name? I don’t really believe what he says. There are four rotating shifts of four guards each, and the gate? But he got in here somehow, and my chains… It was worth a shot.

“Hurry!”

We walk up the shoulder-width staircase and into the twilight. The wind blows my hair and I feel it on my face. We pass one set of guards before I realize what is happening. We come upon the second. Can they see us? The guards stand like oblivious, well-trained statues as we pass by. I know that I am dreaming but this time it feels too real.

The gate. It swings open? It should take two men to open that gate and there is not even one. What’s happening? Then I hear those dreaded words.

“Hey! Who goes there?” Just as I’m passing through to freedom I freeze and turn my head at the inquisition. The guards look fearfully in our direction. Are they afraid of what they see – or what they don’t see? I don’t wait long enough to find out. I round the corner and run down Capitoline Hill as fast as I can. I’m glad that man told me to wear shoes. Wait… where is he? I turn full circle. The white marble of the Forum is all around, bright even at night, but the man that was just a few paces ahead of me is gone. There’s something on the ground. I pick it up and inspect a coin, but this time it’s not my face engraved upon it. Not my face means not my dream! It’s the Gaulish chieftain Vercingetorix who died in the cell I just escaped from not 100 years ago. The cell I just escaped from. The cell I just escaped from!

The sun is rising and I can practically hear Herod’s company on their way.

“Mary’s house is closest. I’ll go there first. Thank you LORD! I’m free!”

Acts 12:6-12

In our minds, open doors and opposition do not belong together.  Have you ever heard that phrase, “God is opening a door?”  We often take it to mean that God is putting an opportunity in front of us, lining up all the circumstances just right.  All we have to do is open the door and walk through it. Whatever’s on the other side – a conversation about Jesus, a new job, an exciting project – will work out perfectly.  Nothing will stand in our way.

I’m standing in front of a door of my own.  My team is getting ready to launch a strategy that aims to begin a nation-wide movement of one million Christians committed to surrendering their lives and to reach their world for Jesus (see TheLife.com). Enormous amounts of time, energy, and money are being poured into this project.  Many people are making the commitment while other struggle with challenge. With the potential to impact the spiritual direction of our nation the stakes are high.

My prayer partner called me up a while back.  “I have some bad news,” she said.  “I have a strong sense that there is great opposition heading for you.”  She continued: “This is the verse that came to my mind.  ‘… a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.’”

In life with God, open doors and opposition often go hand in hand.  The apostle Paul could see God opening a “great door for effective work” right in front of him.  But he could also see obstacles and enemies up ahead, ready to oppose him.  Paul recognized that great opportunities often lead us right into fierce battles.  When we venture into work that threatens our greatest Enemy, we should not be surprised when he takes notice.

If you prayerfully stepped through an open door and now you’re experiencing opposition, be encouraged.  You didn’t misread the situation.  You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.  Remember that God never sends us into battle unprotected.  He sends us with full-body spiritual armor.  (Ephesians 6:10-17) When we put that on, we can walk through any open door – opposition or no.

Prayer:  God, when a door from you opens up, help me to remember that I can be right in the middle of your will for my life and still be facing opposition.  Help me to trust you even when circumstances aren’t perfect.  Please give me the courage to fight for You, and protect me with your armor.  Amen.

“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?  But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it’.” (Genesis 4:7, KJV)

One evening I was especially tired and my son decided to be my helper. Everything that needed to be done, he was right there to do it.  After about a half hour of this his sister could not take it anymore and lashed out at him.  “You are only doing those things so that you will get what you want!!!!”

Her anger was apparent and if she could, she would have been breathing fire.  Why was she so mad?  She could have been helping just as well, right?  She could have been doing things to gain my favor that evening, but she chose not to, she chose to do what she wanted.  However, she was unhappy that he was receiving the favor.

Sounds like the story of Cain and Abel, doesn’t it? Abel did as God asked and Cain did not, however, Cain was angry with Abel!  That is a classic case of misplaced anger, but how many times do we do it?  How many times do we say, here Lord, look what I did?  In reality, we did what we wanted and then hoped for God’s blessing instead of doing what God asks and then receiving his blessing.

“The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.  So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry?  Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?  But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it DESIRES to HAVE you, but you must master it’.  (Gen. 4: 5-7)

Next time you feel angry that God did not bless you for what you have done, be careful and consider this:  What sin is crouching at your door?

What can we do to master sin?  I suggest you prayerfully open your Bible and search for the answer.  It’s in there, it’s also been placed in your heart. Remember also, in order to become a master of something, one must put in A LOT of practice.  Pray for guidance and patience as you master sin and learn do to what is right in God’s eyes.

“Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants” (Matthew 13:7).

I love the look of a freshly weeded garden.  Once in a while, after a good, long rain, I head out to my small garden to do some weeding.  See, after a long rain, the soil is soaked and gives up the weeds much easier.  I like the weeds that give up easily.

It makes for a nice perfect looking garden with far less effort.  The problem is the weeds that seem to give up easily are the ones whose roots stay put.  Those weeds rip right off without pulling the roots with it.  I am so happy to see the clean, perfect garden until a couple of days later, when all the weeds are back again.

That great pride in the perfect garden is ruined because I didn’t dig deep enough.  I never got to the root of the weed.  If I took the extra effort to dig deeply to the bottom of the deepest root, the weed can never come back again.

The same is true in my life.  I can pick off the surface and make it look perfect and neat.  But those weeds just grow right back again, sometimes even stronger.  It takes the love of Jesus to see to the deepest part and rip out the parts that are not of his nature.  “Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants” (Matthew 13: 7).

Getting rid of the weeds allows the plants to grow to their fullest.  The same is true of our hearts; if we pull out the weeds, all the way to the roots, it allows our hearts to grow.

Questions: When God reveals sin in our lives how do we get to the root of the problem?

I noticed Susie almost instantly: she had pink headphones and seemed to be stopped mid-walk as she watched the dramas which portrayed Jesus healing people from addictions and breaking them free from their shackles. I have always been nervous when it comes to starting conversations because I never feel like I know what to say, but I took a deep breath and walked quickly over to her. “Do you like the dramas?” I asked her. She shook her head and said something in Cantonese, so I quickly called over my teammate Dickens to translate.

We had only been in Hong Kong for a few days, and this was my first conversation that I had with someone on the streets who didn’t speak English.  I was nervous about having a conversation via translator, but something told me that I needed to talk to her. Once Dickens started translating and helping me talk with her, I found out that she did like the dramas, but had no idea what was going on. I briefly shared about how Jesus was represented by the man in the white shirt and then asked her what kind of beliefs she had. She said something to Dickens and I asked “What did she say?” He paused before responding, “Nothing.”

I was only a little shocked. I had met a few people in Vancouver that believed in nothing, but it always surprises me.  I then used this to share with her about how God created us to be in a relationship with him, and how this loneliness shows us that we need God. She had a bit of a blank look on her face and started looking around as we talked to her. I thought to myself, She is totally going to bolt soon. She is looking for the point in the conversation where she can excuse herself and then leave.

Surprisingly, Susie stuck around. She kept listening and asking questions, and we shared a tract with her about how to be in a personal relationship with Jesus. At the end of the tract, there are two circles that could represent your life: one has yourself seated on the throne, and one has Jesus seated on the throne of your life. We asked Susie which circle she felt represented her life and she pointed to the one with self on the throne. I then asked her, “Which one would you like to have represent your life?”  She looked at us shyly and then looked back at the booklet. After a few seconds, she pointed to the one with Jesus on the throne.

I was thrilled! She was finally starting to understand what it would look like to be a Christian. I excitedly asked her, “Would you like to pray to do that right now?” As Dickens translated, I saw her face tense up a little bit. Dickens then told me that she was feeling nervous about it, and that he explained to her that there was no pressure to make this decision, that we were simply sharing with her and it was her choice. She made it clear that she was not ready, but we asked if we could have her phone number to give to YFC (our local Hong Kong connection, Youth For Christ), where someone would call her and follow up to see if she had any more questions. She eagerly wrote down her name and number on the paper and then said something to Dickens. “What did she say?” I asked. Dickens then replied, “She said to make sure they call her on Saturday or Sunday because she works during the week.”  At this point, I knew Susie was interested. If she hadn’t wanted to talk about it or wanted to leave, she never would have made sure that she was home for her follow-up call. I was so excited and asked Susie if I could hug her.  She nodded her head shyly and I gave her a hug.  Even though I couldn’t say anything to her except by translation, I knew we had made a connection.

I introduced her to one of the YFC volunteers. Wendy, who had been translating for us, talked excitedly with Susie for a few minutes and then said to me, “She told me to tell you that she was touched that you took the time to explain God to her so clearly.” I broke into a huge smile and had a realization that day: even if it seems like people aren’t very interested in hearing the gospel, as long as they are willing to listen and stay in conversation with you, they deserve that chance to hear the truth!  If I had looked at Susie’s face and seen the blank look and her wandering eyes and taken that as a sign that she didn’t want to hear it, she would not have been able to be introduced to Jesus that day. I am praying that Susie continues to think about God and how he wants to have a relationship with her. I will be thrilled if one day when I go to heaven I will get to see Susie again and hear the story about how she finally decided to surrender her life to Jesus.

Beth is one of ten team members who spent two weeks in July 2011 ministering in Hong Kong.  God is doing awesome things in that city!  Stay tuned for more stories from Hong Kong!

In March 2011, I made my way to Kenya to spend time with the Kenyan DRIME team. Our time in Kenya was focused on strengthening the leadership team and making a plan for their next ministry season.  The inspiring Kenyan leaders (Eva, Jackie, Geoffrey, Duncan) came up with some dreams and plans for their team…which included starting another DRIME chapter in Kisumu and a city team in Nairobi.  They are excited for what God has in store for their team and you better believe that when these people pray and believe the Lord for something, they see Him work!  I am once again amazed and in awe of the resilience of our Kenyan team.  It is based in Kibera (the largest slum in Africa) and most of the team members come from there as well.  They have very little, sacrifice a lot and are passionate about being part of making Jesus known not only in Kenya but all over East Africa.

Would you continue to pray for DRIME Kenya?  They have difficulties and needs that we cannot even begin to understand. I remember during one of our meetings, I was listening to Eva share honestly about her struggle to get money to transport her team members to practice every week when these same members often struggle to have e nough to eat and how it can weigh on her as a leader.  I listened and let the tears stream down my cheeks as I thought of this faithful ministry leader who has seen her team through 5 years of ministry, sacrificing and giving so much more than I have ever needed to.  Eva has a few things to teach me about living sacrificially and for some reason in that moment I got a glimpse of the burden she carries.  Will you remember to pray for her and the needs of entire DRIME ministry in Kenya?

Lillian has been serving with DRIME since 2000.  She has traveled to Ethiopia, Kenya, Thailand and Paraguay sharing the gospel with many.  In 2006, Lillian spent 6 months in Kenya training local leaders for DRIME Kenya, which has seen fruit in the years since.  If you would like to financially support Lillian or DRIME Kenya, click here, follow the prompts and specify your gift.

Are you hiding behind secrets?  Talk to us.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EST.

“For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God . . . What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin” (Romans 2:28-29, 3:9).

Circumcision did more than outwardly mark a Hebrew male as one of God’s children. Paul explains it is the circumcision of the heart, the inwardly meaning of an outwardly act, that is important. Biologically, circumcision has its merits. Cutting away the foreskin can help reduce the chances of infections. The same is true with our hearts.

If we let God into our hearts, i.e. the center of our lives, He begins to tenderly cut away at the things that may be covering us over, thus preventing us from fully receiving His blessings. These things can contaminate us, get in the way, or harbor ill-will.

Infants and small children are not as “attached” to these things. The cutting away does not hurt them as much. Perhaps that is why Jesus said we must be like small children to enter His kingdom. They haven’t become as used to the sins, nor have they carried them around as long.

Circumcising an infant is less of a painful experience. But the older the child grows, the more painful a circumcision can become. Wait until puberty and it is excruciating.

The longer we cover our sins, let the shell of anger, envy or hurt shell over us, the more painful it is going to be to remove it. But, if we are to be God’s people, our sins must be removed.  Through Christ’s sacrifice and pain, ours is lessened.  Like the steady-handed surgeon, our Lord takes His scalpel of mercy and slowly slices away all that is in danger of separating us from fully receiving a covenant relationship with Him. He trims away that which may contaminate us and cover over our souls.

After physical circumcision, great care must be taken to keep the area clean. It is vulnerable, raw, open to the same infections the circumcision seeks to prevent. Nothing is more true with the newly circumcised heart. That is when Satan wants to attacks us the most. But God in His mercy provides the balm to heal the hurting soul and to keep us clean.  He shed His blood on the Cross for that reason.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: How clean is your heart?

Question: What is covering your heart from fully receiving God’s blessings? Will you let God remove that, even if doing so is a bit painful?

About the Author Julie B. Cosgrove

The story I find most interesting about such bottles, though, comes from an experiment when two bottles were dropped off the Brazilian coast simultaneously. One drifted east, washing up one hundred and thirty days later off the coast of Africa. The other drifted northwest, landing in Nicaragua one hundred and ninety days later. They started in exactly the same place. They ended up half a world away from each other.

Relationships drift if we are not intentional

Something similar is at play with human relationships. We can never drift together; we can only ever drift apart. When you’re not paying attention to your relationship, you won’t end up closer. You’ll only end up separate. If you want to go through life in tandem with someone, you have to be intentional about it.

Have you ever been misty-eyed at a wedding, knowing that this couple was perfectly compatible and would last forever, only to be blown away fifteen years later by the divorce announcement? How did that happen? How can two people who were so close end up so far apart?

Need to talk with someone about your relationship, privately? Contact an online mentor to talk, and receive a personal reply via email.

It happens little by little, wave by wave, as different currents catch you. One night he staggers home from work, exhausted, and instead of eating at the table with her, he grabs dinner, puts his feet up, and watches TV. She’s tired, too, so after the kids go to bed she retreats into the study to surf internet blogs. A few more times that week they recreate the scene, and soon it’s become the evening routine. Once couples stop communicating, laughing, and sharing, then the only thing that binds them together is the children. And eventually children aren’t enough.

Drifting takes others for granted and becomes selfish

Too many of us drift through life. We figure our spouses are always going to be there, our kids are always going to love us, and our jobs are always going to be secure. So we don’t put in the hard work of keeping lines of communication open, or building up goodwill, because we’d rather concentrate on ourselves, and what we want. We are, after all, selfish beings, and most of us, if we can get by with laziness, will try. We’re naturally drawn to drifting.

Young adults are today’s quintessential drifters. About 30% of twenty-somethings still live at home, hanging out in their parents’ basement, not pursuing career plans because they’re enjoying the carefree life of computers and video games. Eventually real life will sort itself out, right? Wrong. In those drifting years, they’re missing out on valuable time when they could be saving for a down payment, increasing their marketable skills, or building meaningful relationships. Drifting is preventing real life—adult life—from arriving.

Drifting is destructive, and I don’t think it’s even that fun. We’ve become so accustomed in our society to think that the absence of work is the pinnacle of happiness that we’ve forgotten that it’s sometimes in that work—whether it’s work on relationships, work on stretching ourselves to achieve a goal, or working at our jobs—that we derive the deepest satisfaction.

We all need to relax, that is a good thing. But in your relaxation, don’t drift. Instead, take the time to plan. Go for walks in the beautiful sunshine (or rain, you won’t melt) and figure out what’s important to you. What is your purpose here? What are you aiming for? How are you going to get there? Since we can’t drift towards happiness, we had better start being more deliberate about it.

If your relationship has felt like it’s drifting lately, consider attending a Weekend to Remember conference!