stuff to learn
I have a lot to think about
Before i started my job i knew a had a lot to learn.
As i continue doing it i realise just how much i didn't realise i had to learn.
From simple things like communicating what i want done and telling people the plans for the coming weeks/months i a good way.
to
Helping people realise what they are doing wrong, and how they can improve, things such as public speaking in classes, and also how people can work on their character. I'm still desperatly needing to learn a good way of telling people when i think their behaviour could be improved, especially when its things like moaning, or not speaking positively, or being late, or stuff like that, because i know how much i get that wrong to. But its my job.
I also need to learn how to have confidence that actually sometimes i do know better, and even if they don't like it, that some things do need to be done the way i say.
I find it hard. especially if they don't and i then have to tell them off.
I really want a mentor to teach me/model some of these simple things, and to be able to encourage me when i get them right, and how to do it better when i get them wrong. My boss, and my wise friends do this quite a bit, but i kinda want to have some proper time learning. not sure when though
today also challanged me a lot about how to talk about Jesus to people who don't believe in him.
We had a visiting speaker with the band today who spoke at our lunch time gig in the school.
I have no problems whatsoever about talking about Jesus in a gig, if people know what they are coming to.
but today challanged me. about how to do that. and i'm not sure how to do it right.
these are some of my ideas.
I want people to know about Jesus, and to believe in Him, because of what I know of Him and about him, and how he effects peoples life (especially mine)
but
I can't ever force any one to be a Christian - i can't force any one to believe in Jesus - thats impossible, and i don't ever want to manipulate people to thinking they have to.
because you can't believe in something by force, or manipulation - it has to because you believe.
I don't think i know how to say what i'm thinking.
I think all my non-christian friends know i'm a christian and what i believe, but i don't think i talk about it all the time - may be i should talk about it more - but i am so consciense that i don't want someone to believe just cause i've said something over and over, but because its not real for them.
still not sure how to say that.
I'd rather someone thinking about it and then ask questions - and then i feel free to answer, rather than answering questions someone has not asked.
I'd like to say stuff/ or live i a way to prompt questions, but i want to respect people who don't believe. Belief has to come from believing in something.
how does someone come to believe? i'm not sure,
from hearing about something lots till it makes sense?
from experiencing something?
from hearing about something, and thinking it through?
i don't know.
i think its by hearing, and then exploring, and then the HOly Spirit enabling someone to believe - and that i leave up to the Holy Spirit.
I'll try and talk - and try not to force/manipulate - and then pray lots.
but at the same time i don't want to compromise at all on the message of Jesus.
am i making any sense?
Any ideas?
i think i just want to tell people what i believe, (wanting them in my heart to believe in Jesus too and being honest about that) and try and explain it the best i can, but leave them with the option of exploring and believing, rather than trying to force them to believe.
and if they do believe? great :-) I'll praise Jesus
and if they don't? I'll praise Jesus for the opportunity, and will be sad - but will still love and respect the people who made that choice - i would rather someone say "i don't believe mate, i think you're mad" than someone say "I believe" and not mean it- but saying it cause either everyone else did, or because of the way the question was put to them.
sometimes speakers remind me of an NTL sales person who came to our door with the question
"do you want cheaper phone calls?"
but really meaning - do you want an NTL phone line.
If i said yes then said no to the NTL line, i'd look silly.
but if i said, "no" i don't want cheaper phone calls" that'd look silly to.
the question was really a matter of
"do you want to stay with BT or have an NTL line?"
becuase BT might be more expensive... but at least it works...
does that make sense - i want to say things in a way where people are not pressurised in to saying one answer or another, but feel free to make their own choice.
and i want it to be their choice if they even hear what choices they have.
is this a good way to think? and i hope i haven't pressuriesed any one in to replying one way or another!!!!
I really want to work out a good way for me to communicate.
Before i started my job i knew a had a lot to learn.
As i continue doing it i realise just how much i didn't realise i had to learn.
From simple things like communicating what i want done and telling people the plans for the coming weeks/months i a good way.
to
Helping people realise what they are doing wrong, and how they can improve, things such as public speaking in classes, and also how people can work on their character. I'm still desperatly needing to learn a good way of telling people when i think their behaviour could be improved, especially when its things like moaning, or not speaking positively, or being late, or stuff like that, because i know how much i get that wrong to. But its my job.
I also need to learn how to have confidence that actually sometimes i do know better, and even if they don't like it, that some things do need to be done the way i say.
I find it hard. especially if they don't and i then have to tell them off.
I really want a mentor to teach me/model some of these simple things, and to be able to encourage me when i get them right, and how to do it better when i get them wrong. My boss, and my wise friends do this quite a bit, but i kinda want to have some proper time learning. not sure when though
today also challanged me a lot about how to talk about Jesus to people who don't believe in him.
We had a visiting speaker with the band today who spoke at our lunch time gig in the school.
I have no problems whatsoever about talking about Jesus in a gig, if people know what they are coming to.
but today challanged me. about how to do that. and i'm not sure how to do it right.
these are some of my ideas.
I want people to know about Jesus, and to believe in Him, because of what I know of Him and about him, and how he effects peoples life (especially mine)
but
I can't ever force any one to be a Christian - i can't force any one to believe in Jesus - thats impossible, and i don't ever want to manipulate people to thinking they have to.
because you can't believe in something by force, or manipulation - it has to because you believe.
I don't think i know how to say what i'm thinking.
I think all my non-christian friends know i'm a christian and what i believe, but i don't think i talk about it all the time - may be i should talk about it more - but i am so consciense that i don't want someone to believe just cause i've said something over and over, but because its not real for them.
still not sure how to say that.
I'd rather someone thinking about it and then ask questions - and then i feel free to answer, rather than answering questions someone has not asked.
I'd like to say stuff/ or live i a way to prompt questions, but i want to respect people who don't believe. Belief has to come from believing in something.
how does someone come to believe? i'm not sure,
from hearing about something lots till it makes sense?
from experiencing something?
from hearing about something, and thinking it through?
i don't know.
i think its by hearing, and then exploring, and then the HOly Spirit enabling someone to believe - and that i leave up to the Holy Spirit.
I'll try and talk - and try not to force/manipulate - and then pray lots.
but at the same time i don't want to compromise at all on the message of Jesus.
am i making any sense?
Any ideas?
i think i just want to tell people what i believe, (wanting them in my heart to believe in Jesus too and being honest about that) and try and explain it the best i can, but leave them with the option of exploring and believing, rather than trying to force them to believe.
and if they do believe? great :-) I'll praise Jesus
and if they don't? I'll praise Jesus for the opportunity, and will be sad - but will still love and respect the people who made that choice - i would rather someone say "i don't believe mate, i think you're mad" than someone say "I believe" and not mean it- but saying it cause either everyone else did, or because of the way the question was put to them.
sometimes speakers remind me of an NTL sales person who came to our door with the question
"do you want cheaper phone calls?"
but really meaning - do you want an NTL phone line.
If i said yes then said no to the NTL line, i'd look silly.
but if i said, "no" i don't want cheaper phone calls" that'd look silly to.
the question was really a matter of
"do you want to stay with BT or have an NTL line?"
becuase BT might be more expensive... but at least it works...
does that make sense - i want to say things in a way where people are not pressurised in to saying one answer or another, but feel free to make their own choice.
and i want it to be their choice if they even hear what choices they have.
is this a good way to think? and i hope i haven't pressuriesed any one in to replying one way or another!!!!
I really want to work out a good way for me to communicate.
posted by jeff at 5:25 PM
2 Comments:
Jeff- me and Flan have just started to have this conversation in some ways.. would love to chat with you... will catch you soon
Mm...me and my co-cell-leader too...
We have a cell with quite a few guys who aren't Christians in it. Brilliant. But means this kind of question is always there.
Was a big carol service last night arranged by lots of Christian groups together. Fantastic, and positive. But I started to cringe a little when the speakers began with hard-hitting "which side of the fence are you on" stuff. My gut reactions were:
"noone here came to hear this, and so will reject it offhand like a telesales call".
"you're just using now-cliched phrases, rather than talking honestly - how is that attractive or real?".
"because they didn't give you permission to talk to them about this, I'm not sure you have the right".
I don't know if that's theologically accurate, or what, but it just sat very wrong in me.
I know these methods have got 'results'. But, I know that with the guys I talk to, the only thing is to be honest about who I am and what I think, and leave them to take it further if ever they want to.
Honesty's a different issue altogether... ;)
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