Let's Give 'Em Somethin' to Talk About

Acts 5:42 Day after day, in the temple courts and house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

On days when Clara and Carynne have preschool, one of my favorite treats is to relax at Starbucks and read my Bible, a Bible study or another Christian book. Starbucks is a cross-section of the relatively affluent, suburban world. It is a meeting place for business people, friends and even family. Starbucks holds a special place in my heart because it is this locale that has generated a multitude of opportunities to talk to regular people about what I'm reading and why. Now that's worth the cost of an overpriced cup of coffee!

This morning I am reading Acts 8:26-40. In this relatively short passage, Luke details a God-ordained encounter that the apostle Philip has with a high-ranking official from Ethiopia. A man of dedication, he had traveled all the way from his homeland to worship in Jersusalem. This might not seem too extraordinary until you realize that he was a eunuch. A castrated male would not even be allowed to enter the temple, let alone worship there. He made this incredibly long journey just to be near the temple and yet not enter it.

An angel appears to Philip and instructs him to go to the road this man would be traveling. The Spirit directs him to the eunuch's chariot and a life-changing conversation ensues. No longer does this man just have to be in the proximity of God, he can have a intimate relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no physical limitation that will prevent Jesus from entering his heart. That is indeed good news!

While I may not personally get face time with the heavenly hosts, God has called me, along with every believer, to share the gospel with my fellow travelers on the road of life. Whether its a coffee drinker, a neighbor or a preschool mom, we all really thirst for the same thing - Jesus. Today, I'm serving up my venti-sized, extra-pumped, extra-shot Jesus. That's even way better than Starbucks!