"you've got mail"

"For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings." (1 Corinthians 9:19-23, NRSV)

this is a great message for the Church today. i know, i know. Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth thousands of years ago, and he had no idea that you, or i, would be reading his outgoing mail in the year 2006. putting that aside, read it again. i think, and correct me if i'm wrong, we can adapt this style to ministry in our context and make some great connections. to folks who like sports, i play and talk sports with them. to folks who like movies, i talk about and watch movies with them. to kids who like video games, i play video games with them. i like brass and hip hop so i can connect with brass heads and hip hop fans. i dabble in all styles, because i like it, and to share the Gospel through developing relationships with all kinds of folks.