DNA

I heard a while back that when you first start to teach someone about something new is the best time to start good habits. One of the best examples is a parent teaching a child. The parent starts from a young age teaching the child right from wrong. I realized the other day that I like fish but hate to eat it. I have always known that but I never really thought why. Then I realized it is the bones in the fish that I do not like, and the reason why was my mom. When I was young she always told me that you have to be careful of bones in fish. If I swallowed a bone it would get stuck in my throat and I would, in my mom's words, "die." I know now that she was being a little extreme but she was just trying to teach me a lesson when I was young so that I would not eat bones from a fish. Some might say that lesson becomes part of our DNA. A part of who we are.
One thing I really wished I was taught early on was just how IMPORTANT reaching out to others with the Word is. Sure I have heard many lessons on Sunday and even talked about it in classes. However I became like the majority and just listened and went on. It was not that I ever thought about reaching out to people but it came across to me as something a old wise Brother or Sister would do. Or maybe those our Family supported doing the work in other countries. It just never occurred to me just how important it was for me to do it. It became my DNA not to do it, knowing I should be doing it. Now that I truly understand how important it is I am having to learn how to reach people. Changing your DNA,like any habit, is a very hard thing to do!
One thing I have learned when starting to teach new people is that you should start challenging them from the beginning to go out and tell others what they have learned in a study. Make it part of their DNA. It is something they will be able to do since you just worked with them and helped them to understand what a passage says. Plus teaching is a great way to really learn something. It is one thing to hear it but you learn it even better when you can teach it.
I, along with another friend, have been working with someone. We have only met about three times but they have been very rewarding for us. One thing I always do at the end of the lesson is ask who this person can talk to about what we have learned this week. Nothing more, nothing less. I just ask him to read it to some people and ask what they think about it. I am teaching this to him early so that it becomes part of his DNA.
There is nothing more rewarding then two weeks ago when he came in and said that he talked to his roommates about what we studied. Most of them did not seem very interested but he said one roommate asked a few questions. I was filled with mixed emotions. I was excited that he actually did it. Then something came to me. He went out with the little bit that he knows and tried to teach someone. I thought about all the years I have been a Follower and have not done what this guy has done in just a few weeks. He is already out teaching others! I know that he is still learning but his DNA is being made. As he learns more from the Word he will see why each week he is doing what he is doing. It will not be a weird thing for him because it will already be something he has been doing and is use to.
My challenge to all who read this is to really examine your DNA, and when you have opportunities with new people, your children, or even old Followers that you challenge them to make outreach part of their DNA.

Just Reach Out and Touch Someone

About a month ago I heard an idea about how it takes 40 touches to reach someone. It was not saying after 40 actual touches someone will suddenly decide to follow Him. In fact the number 40 is not even that important of a number, but an idea. The idea is that almost no one is suddenly impacted and changed during a first encounter to completely change who they are. However if a person is continually impacted by something a change may start to occur within the person. The touches do not even have to be from the same person. It may be 3 touches by me, 4 from a friend, and 5 from someone I do not even know. Over time the person becomes influenced.

One thing I always have a problem with is trying to go for the big score every play. When opportunities happen I try to take the ball and run the whole length of the field, or try to go for the homerun swing. This will usually not happen. Instead I find my self upset and frustrated that I missed the ball and maybe even want to give up and quit. Lately I have taken on a more conservative offense. Instead of going for the score every time, I am learning to work the ball down the field. This takes much longer but I find myself not as upset because I can see the ball going down the field.

I have come to realize that I am playing the game on His field, by His rules, and on His time. I can try to do whatever I want, but in the end, it is His game. I am learning to trust more that I am playing on His team and not my own. When playing by His rules I am happy with giving someone just a little touch when I can. I do not get upset because I do not score every time. Not being upset keeps me from wanting to give up all together. My hope is that over time someone will be influenced by my actions and words enough to want to change. I just have to make sure I am making the effort to touch that person.