Last night was exciting wasn’t it?  If you weren’t able to be there, jump over here, and listen to the teaching.  I am so excited for what God is doing at the Five.  I was really excited to hear from all of you during the teaching part of the evening.  You all had some great questions.  In addition, thanks to those of you who just wanted to say Hi, and those of you who said, “Peter, you look great in maroon.”  (Actually no one said that)  But anyway…  Let’s move onto the questions.

What is the background of the Penn Video?

This is a good question.  It was recorded December 8th, 2008.  It is a part of a series called, “Penn Says”.  This is a form of a video blog, and a way that Penn responds and disperses information with his fan base.  I saw this on someone else’s blog with a challenge to take quite seriously sharing the gospel with others.  I was really challenged by the perspective given on evangelism from Penn.  Interesting how God can use anything.  Here’s the video.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3hM]

Have you ever doubted God?  Or just your devotion to Him?

Well, here’s where I’ll go first.  I’ll open it up, and you can answer this question too.  Have you?  I can’t remember a time where I doubted God’s existence.  I have always believed that God was here and active in my life.  However, I know that there have been times when I have questioned wether God could or would do anything about my life circumstances. I know for me, it was hard to watch my dad suffer, and to question why is God allowing this to happen to a man who has served God with his life.  I struggled with wondering if God was in control of this situation or not.  I’m not proud of this, I have spent time confessing to God that I had not been as faithful as I desired, or as faithful as He desires me to be.  

I remember a time about 5 years ago when I had just gotten done surfing.  I was getting out of the water and I returned to my phone to find a voicemail.  It was from one of my sisters and they were delivering some news to me.  The news was negative in nature, and it had to do with the Church.  Not my church but a church.  I sat there and thought, “hmm… Is this really what I want to do with my life?  Do I want to put myself out there to be hurt by people?  To be accused, frustrated, tired, unappreciated?”  I thought about it.  Why is it that I do what I do?  

I can honestly say it’s because God has given me so much.  He loves me so much.  I desire to make a difference in this world and help others come to know Jesus in a life changing way!  So, have I doubted God, I guess.  Have I doubted my devotion to Him?  I guess.  These are not high lights of my life.  But they are there.  God has been faithful to me in every situation, through every high and every low.  He never changes.  That is what is important to remember.  

If your flock at home is divided, with you being the sole shepherd, should that be your main focus or do you take that effort and reach those outside in hopes that it is seen by the lost sheep at home?

Great question.  I think that God has called each one of us to be good stewards of all that He has given us.  (Including our salvation)  Due to the fact salvation is a free gift, achieved only through faith, not by works; we should be diligent in telling others about this free gift.  To say, ‘because there are lost sheep at home I don’t need to worry about those lost outside my home’ doesn’t make sense to me.  To say, ‘because there are lost sheep outside my home, I will focus on them’ also doesn’t make sense to me.  This is not an either or situation.  This is a both and situation.  

You are right by saying that those inside your home may take notice of your efforts outside your home.  God is interested in everyone knowing Him.  Whatever you do, don’t be discouraged.  Keep up the hard work.  Check out John 13:34-35.  

Thanks for your questions!  Let’s continue the conversation.  What do you think?

~Peter