I thought I recognized his face, but couldn't remember the name. "Hey, man. It's been a long time!"

 

"Wow," he responded. "It sure has. What have you been up to?"

 

"Well, I'm building an international faith team. Doing it on the Internet. Coaching faith all over the world. Check out the website sometime, FaithTeam.org."

 

"Are you connected to a church?" he asked.

 

"No, no church or denomination. This ministry is outside the walls of church. But, the hidden secret is, we're making Sundays better. It's a Kingdom thing."

 

"So, do people have to sign a statement of faith, to be part of it, or do you just let anybody in?"

 

"Anybodies are welcome. We do ask our team to Tell and Find and Be the story of faith. It's a faith in action thing. I'm helping believers look for, and find, the fingerprints of God in this generation." 

 

"That's great, but don't you teach them the truth about what to believe? If you don't, you'll get a bunch of crazies. And, don't they have to go to a church somewhere? I don't see how you do this without tying people to church. You've got to get them in church. You know, all that action stuff doesn't matter, if they don't have the right beliefs. That's the bottom line. What are you doing about..."

 

The rest of the conversation was about doctrines and demands. He kept the discussion focused on his version of "the correct" institutional Christian faith--about "The True Faith." 

 

I tried, but failed to get him to understand my kingdom vision of coaching faith inside and outside the institutional walls. He refused to see it. It frightened him; his view of God was threatened by what he perceived as a risky endeavor. There wasn't enough controls built-in. Therefore, the Faith Team was, at this point, beyond, beyond his understanding. As Jesus put it, he didn't have "eyes to see, nor ears to hear."

 

When we parted that day, I still couldn't remember his name. In fact, I'm not sure he was the guy I thought he was, at all. 

 

This ministry is about faith that is still being written, not belief in a philosophy or list that limits us to the way it has always been. We believe in the God who invades the impossible and reveals the invisible. This team is all about faith as a verb... it's faith in action. God's the only one in  control, it's really HIS story.

 

The old-timer caught fish every time he went fishing, and his buddies were tired of his success.  He refused to share his secret, so a surprise visit by the game warden was set up. 

 

It was 5:30 in the morning when the old-timer backed his faithful weather-worn boat into the lake. After he tied the boat to the end of the dock, he parked his truck in the same old spot and headed back to the boat. 

 

When he arrived, the game warden was waiting. “Going fishing this morning?” he asked.

 

“Yep.” 

 

The game warden studied for a second and asked, “Mind if I go with ya?”

 

OK with me. Hop in,” said the old-timer.

 

The warden spent the next few minutes studying everything he could about this old fisherman. There seemed to be a set routine. Once they arrived in the secluded cove on the back side of the lake, the old-timer killed the motor, dropped anchor, and began preparing to catch fish. 

 

The game warden relaxed and prepared to learn the fishing secret that had many people up in arms.

 

The old-timer got his net ready for action, opened his tackle box, and fumbled around looking for just the right item. Then he pulled out a Bic lighter and a stick of dynamite. While the game warden was still in shock, the fisherman lit the stick and at just the right moment he tossed it out over the water and ducked. 

 

The dynamite exploded and as the stunned fish began to float on the surface, the old-time got his net and began hauling in the big ones.

 

Finally freed from his shock, the game warden pulled out his ticket pad and began preaching to the old man about all the laws he had violated. As the tickets were torn from the book and fines began to add up, the old man reached into the tackle box and quietly pulled out another stick of dynamite. He lit it, and at just the right time handed it to the game warden.

 

“You gonna to talk, or fish?”

 

God has handed you the power. You have a story he is writing in your life. It reveals truth that changes everything. What are you doing with this power?

 

The assignment this week is to "go fish." It's time to quit talking and start fishing. Be the story this week.

 

Tell one person about the Faith Team. Explain, in your own words, what we are all about. This is a "faith in action" ministry. It's outside the walls, real-life, stuff. It's during the week encouragement that makes Sunday better. Tell why the Faith Team Ministry is important to you. 

 

Then, ask him or her to pray for God to bless this ministry with growth and   courage. 

 

Now, that you have practiced, be ready for God to surprise you with other opportunities to share the faith in action story. It will happen sooner than you expect.

 

You gonna talk or fish?