What does trust look like?

Trust is evident when people are willing to share with you secrets and know that those secrets will be kept sacred.

Sometimes it means that those who are addicted to something will show you what they are addicted to... and will test your reaction to the facts.

Sometimes it means that memories from the past come out that no one else can know.

It is easy to say "Love the sinner and hate the sin". It is harder to do.

Here are a few things that I have learned to do that has gone a long way in helping to really learn how to get to the love part:

1. Bless the good that you see in every person.

2. Learn to ask simple but basic questions that can let you demonstrate that you have a capacity to listen. Then really listen. (Still working hard on this one...)

3. Food and drink in scripture is connected to loving our enemies and hospitality. Generosity goes a long way in establishing new lines of trust. You can bring the coffee and the Hot wings to the next sports party.

4. "Where your treasure is ... there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6)... you cannot fake this... people want and need love... Learn to love people and use things rather than loving things and using people.

Once we have earned people's trust... Than we can with humility help people get in touch with the consequences of sin... exposing it for what it really is... A form of slavery that leads ultimately to many different proximates of death and death itself. Remeber that Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit and God tends to be inclusive in this process of conviction and transformation. There is a reason that the best person to reach an addict is an x-addict. Do not distance yourself from being part of the human condition. And don't forget that people need to here about Jesus multiple times and in different ways. They need to see demonstrations of Christ's life at work within you. Most people hear about Jesus over 7 times from 3 or more people before they make a decision for or against following God.

The level of trust and love we really have for each other and others will often guide others response to our message of "Good News". I John 1!