Last week I told you that I was hoping to share a video clip to some of the international students after our team cooked dinner for them.

I also said that sharing videos is the simplest way of sharing the Gospel.

So, did it work?

Not the way I expected.

I was having great converations getting to know new students and I thought it might be better to get opinions later over coffee.  So I asked Kenny* and Yutaro* if they would like to get together for coffee sometime later in the week.  Both said 'yes'.

I like the word sometime. I'm not trying to tie them down to a specific time.  Just, "is this something you might be interested in?".

When Yutaro* and I met for coffee we watched Happiness is $1.25.  I picked this video as an introduction to talking about Jesus.  The question bank includes:

• Do you think God want you to experience happiness in life?
• Jesus says: " ;;; I came that they may have life and hav it abundantly"  John 10:10.  What do you think that means?

 Yutaro* loves talking about deep topics, so I gave him a list of suggestions and we will talk about Resolving Conflict this week.

Kenny* works in the mall on Monday, so after work we went out to dinner.   We looked at  Delight : a one-minute video.  From our earlier discussion I wasn't sure if Kenny even believed that God existed.  The question bank got us into a good discussion:

• What did you like about this film? What did you dislike?
• Can you picture your parents "delighting" in you when you were young? What do you think that was like?
• God is called Father in the Bible. How does the idea of God delighting in you make you feel?

 The end result is that Kenny* is now considering meeting regulary to read the Bible with me.

On Sunday my wife and I went up to the Blue Mountains to see some friends.  On tbe way home Richard* and Tina* joined us.  The train ride is over 90 minutes long, so we had lots of time to talk.

Richard* used to work for the railroad and was telling me about the many problems that were created when politicians and engineers did not think through their solutions:  like the time someone bought trains that tilted.  Yes, it gives a better ride, but it made the train too wide to clear the station platforms.  Crunch.

I thought he would like Ctrl Z, which focuses on our desire to re-do things.  Richard* politely watched the video and then started showing me videos of his favourite topic:  the new space telescope.  No chance to talk about Jesus today, but  I discovered that Richard* has a telescope similar to mine.  When I mentioned that I don't know how to orient mine properly, he offered to help.  Maybe during that time we can talk more about Jesus.

How would you evaluate these interactions?

• My observation is that I found it easier to share video clips on my phone with one person at a time. 
• Most of the time we were able to have a  spiritual conversation after watching the video. 
• Two of these events were planned in advance; the third happened in the ordinary flow of life.

Let me encourage you to download the Jesus Film App so that you can be ready the next time God opens a door. 

You can even send links to the videos to your friends right from the App.  How easy is that?

Let's pray:

"Lord Jesus, thank you for the doors that you open for us to talk about You.  What a privilege to watch how people respond when we share videos and other materials with them.  Enable us to be sensitive to what will best communicate to each person we meet this week.  Show us when videos are a good option.  Remind us to keep our phones charged so that we will be ready whenever the opportunity presents itself.  We will give you the honor and praise for all that happens.  Amen."

Have a great week.