The destruction of hurricanes Harvey and Irma and their impacts remain fresh, as well as North Korea’s threats, and other stories capturing the attention of our nation. Amid those things, losing track of immediate, ordinary, and ongoing spiritual and practical needs becomes a real possibility. So, this week, I offer six reminders of activities that need intentional attention during these times.

Number one: pursue God. Interact with Him. Seek Him. Distraction stealthily encroaches upon diligence. Its lures, sometimes undetected and uncomfortably natural, are utterly sinister. Spend time with God. Nurture and cultivate your spirituality. Saturate yourself in His word. Cast off every hindrance. Enjoy your Savior.

Number two: live evangelistically. God crafted every Christian into a multiplying saint. No exceptions exist. Look for ways to practice evangelistic living. Prompt others to move closer to Jesus, even to believe in and follow Him. Start with family and work outward. A sea of lost people surrounds every saint, especially in New Mexico.

Number three: love your family. Husband, love your wife. Cherish her. Parents, love your children. Protect, provide for and nurture them. Talk about God and faith at home. Have fun with each other, too. Serve each other. Invest personal attention, time, energy and resources into family relationships.

Number four: serve and support your church. Build relationships with church members. Nurture unity. Participate and serve in church ministries. Faithfully tithe. The entire tithe belongs to the local church. Splitting it among good causes is philanthropy, not tithing. Biblical tithing outweighs philanthropy. Tithe first.

Number five: personally observe Pastor Appreciation Month. Plan to say “I love you and value you” to your pastor, his wife, and any children they still have at home. Dote on them. Write notes. Give gifts. Serve them in some way. Appreciate them. Care for your pastor during October. After making your plan, help your church plan.

Finally, number six, give to the Mission New Mexico State Missions Offering. In New Mexico, hunger remains rampant. Neglected and troubled children need care. Orphans need homes. Struggling and fractured families need help. People need places to retreat and seek God. Churches need reviving. Ministers need crisis care. Disaster victims need relief and assistance. The MNM State Missions Offering funds these ministries. Give on October 1 or during October. Planned giving exceeds giving pocket change. Be generous to those who need you and other New Mexico Baptists to work together.

Stay focused, New Mexico Baptists. Those are the six reminders. Stay on track with God. Live evangelistically. Love your family. Serve and support your church. Observe Pastor Appreciation Month. Give to the MNM State Missions Offering. You and I, along with other believers, are God’s plan. Focus matters. He has no “plan B.”

PS. Don’t forget Pastor Appreciation Month in October!

I never cease being amazed at the spiritual openness and curiosity of people in New Mexico.

On one hand, I hear people talk about the deplorable moral condition of our state. On the other hand, I hear Jesus saying “look,” “go,” and “love.” Jesus is not wrong. He sees beyond depravity and sees people lost and without God in the world. He saw me that way.

But, where do I find this openness and curiosity? Everywhere! In 2012, as many have heard, God did a work in my heart and life that changed me. I began giving out tracts—one by one. By now, I have given out hundreds of them. Only once has someone declined my tract. Only once.
Rather than rejection, people have thanked me. Servers have read the booklet right there while I explained it. I have had people shake my hand. They have smiled. A few have cried. The reaction has been uncanny. Rejection is rare.

When I tell people about my journey, I tell them about giving away tracts. With each story I ask, “When I held my tract out to them, do you know what they did?” The answer is simple: “They took it.” Time after time, they took it. I never expected that when God launched me on my journey. Without doubt, He has paved the way. He is the reason they took it, not me.
Here are some recent stories of my tracting journey. I still do it, and people still take it.

I was meeting a friend at a Subway sandwich shop for lunch. I was ready and had prayed asking God to help me see lost people and give away a tract. As we stood in line, I recognized the prompting in my heart. The lady making my sandwich needed a tract. After paying for our sandwiches, I held out a tract to her. Its bold lettered title was in plain view: “Steps to Peace With God.” “I’d like to give you something,” I said. “This is a little booklet that tells a story that changed my life, literally. Maybe it could change your life, too.”

I opened to the back page and continued, “I’ve written my name and email address here on the back page in case you have any questions.” Then I finished, saying, “I know you don’t have time to read it now. Just put it in your pocket, and check it out later. Thanks for serving us.”
Then, I did it. I held out the tract toward her. Do you know what she did? She took it. It happens every time.

Another time I was picking up a guest for a BCNM meeting. He flew into the airport. After I met him at the arrival area, we headed for my car. Driving out, I had to stop to pay for parking. I recognized again the prompting with which I have become familiar. I was uncomfortable with the situation—having a guest with me. I hoped not to appear like I was trying to show off. Actually, I was very uncomfortable. Yet, I obeyed.

The parking attendant gave me my receipt, and I started. I said the same thing that I said at Subway. The woman smiled. She was appreciative, not dismissive.

Then, I did it. I held out the tract toward her. Do you know what she did? She took it.

At a hotel, during a banquet meal, I recognized the familiar prompting once more. Hotel staff were everywhere. I went looking for one whom I could catch and who could speak English. I approached the serving supervisor. She was harried, but paused as I spoke.

I said the same thing as I said at Subway and the parking lot. She smiled, too. She listened. She did not interrupt or stop me. I try not to take long because most people are busy.
Then, I did it. I held out the tract toward her. Do you know what she did? She took it.

On my 30th anniversary, I was eating with my wife at a nice restaurant for lunch. A kind, attentive young man tended our table and met our needs. He did a great job. I sensed the same prompting. So, I got out a tract to be ready when he came by. I did the same thing with him as I had with the others. My approach is not fancy.

Then, I did it. I held out the tract toward him. Do you know what he did? He took it.
I have a feeling they would take it from you, too.