This post is the end of a three part series, so if you haven’t read the last two days, please do that before reading this one, in fact it would be good to read them anyway so this makes more sense to you.

Five keys to telling good stories;

1. Keep your story short. The number one reason that stories move from good to boring is that they go too long, usually because there is too much detail. The rule that I follow is 200 words written and 2 minutes spoken, with 300 words written and 3 minutes spoken as the absolute maximum.

2. Tell your story in a straight line. Our minds like listening to a story until it gets confusing and nothing makes a story confusing as much as rabbit trails, it is like telling multiple stories at once. That might work in movies but not when you want to hold someone’s attention while you are telling them a story.

3. Use people’s names as much as possible instead of pronouns unless the story is about only one person. Again, people don’t listen to confusing stories and the over use of pronouns makes a person’s brain have to work too hard to figure out who is being talked about as the story moves along. As I listen to different people tell stories that are both good and bad this principle is often the difference.

4. Work at creating a mental image or picture with the words that you use. Use words that describe the scene in the story with colors, size, movement, and sounds. It is as if you are painting a picture using words so that the person listening easily gets a mental image as you tell your story. But, a word of caution, this is where many people cross the line into boring because they give to much detail. This principle is the biggest difference between good story-tellers and bad, the best stories have just enough detail, and the bad too much.

5. Writing is the single most important factor in the first four principles being followed successfully. Writing is a discipline that many often skip because it takes to long, but skipping it almost guarantees that a story will be boring. Any story that I tell in a sermon or lesson is always one that I have first written out. When you write it out and read it back to yourself it is so much easier to ask yourself how you did on the four keys to a good story. I am always looking for good stories in daily experiences, and when I see one I write it out and then memorize it.

So I think that most serious followers of Jesus should start writing as a key method of communicating and influencing others spiritually. We can share with texts, emails, on Facebook, Facebook messenger, and with blogs. We can read what we have written or memorize it and do a video and post it on YouTube or Facebook as well. If you work on your writing skill by learning how to write better, practice your writing, have others give you advice, both on the mechanics and on the content, and pray a lot over it and about it, God will bless you and use you. The main problem is that most will not start this journey, but you have to start if you want to be effectively used by God in the lives of others. God guides a moving ship not one sitting or going in circles.

In my opinion and experience the most effective tool in spoken or written communication are well-told stories. Stories connect with people, hold their interest and are very effective in making and impressing a point of truth. Jesus told stories and much of the Bible is given to us from God in stories. You could say that God is the ultimate storyteller, which is why I believe those that read the Bible a lot will be the best storytellers.

Which brings me to my next point, stories that are poorly told are worse than no story at all because they very quickly bore people and then they stop listening or reading. So when I talk about growing in skill, one of the main things I am talking about is learning how to be a good storyteller. One of the problems is that because stories are personal we automatically like them so we have a hard time being critical of how we tell them. It is essential that we become our own worst and best critic of how we communicate our stories to others. We have all heard stories from others that we have to tolerate in order to be polite, be obsessed with not being that kind of storyteller.

Tomorrow I will give you 5 guidelines on being a world-class storyteller. Even though I am not in the category of being one of the best storytellers yet, I have that as a goal, and I know what it takes and what I have to work on to get there. I read a lot of short stories written by the best and ask myself continually while reading, ”what makes this story interesting, why does it hold my attention so strongly, and why is it so entertaining. I also pay attention when I hear someone tell a story that is very good, and ask the same questions. Becoming a good storyteller is like learning how to play play tennis, or swim, or paint a picture.

I believe with all my heart, mind, and soul that heaven is a very real place and I am going to live there forever. I believe that the Lake of Fire is a very real place as well and many of the people I know and care about are going to be tormented there forever and ever. I am going to heaven forever because I have believed in Jesus Christ, trusted Him as my personal savior, and I am following Him as my Lord. I now have the responsibility to share the good news of the free gift of salvation

All of a sudden the number of people that I can have a face to face conversation with is reduced down to mostly immediate family, so how do I share the gospel with people now? The Apostle Paul was a preacher and a church planter with amazing energy and toughness traveling all over the known world on 3 missionary journeys, but he also spent much time in jail because of his faith. While he was in jail he wrote letters back to the churches he had planted and to pastors he had mentored. Paul’s method of evangelism changed when his circumstances changed. The greatest work of Paul is what we have in the New Testament that he wrote teaching us how to know God and live for Him.

So I have made writing my primary method of sharing the good news with as many people as possible. I write my blog every day, praying diligently that God will help me to grow in my writing skill, and that He will give me great wisdom to know what to write and how to write it so people’s minds are captured and their hearts are changed. I also pray everyday that God will prompt people to read my blog, more and more.

So tomorrow I will tell you what has been my most important tool in writing.

There are a lot of very hard, and very critical decisions needing to be made by our president in the days ahead in regards to the global pandemic, other countries, and the economy. It won’t matter what he does or says there will be many who are against it. This whole thing has become so hyped and so incredibly blown out of proportion by the media that leading in the midst of it all has to be incredibly difficult. The single most important key is for those who follow Jesus to pray diligently for our President and the rest of our countries leaders that God would lead them to do His will. The Bible instructs us to pray for our leaders;

1 Timothy 2:1-3 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

God is more than powerful enough to guide my president, the Governor of Oregon, the senators and Representatives, and to change their heart where needed, and I believe if enough of God’s people do that God will work, guide, and bless.

Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.

King Nebuchadnessar was a very powerful, wicked, cruel, and prideful ruler. He led what has been called the most powerful world empire in the history of mankind. He became a main character in the book of Daniel and the prophecies made by God through Daniel revolved around him. The reason is because Daniel prayed diligently for his King, and God turned Nebuchadnezzar’s heart towards Himself;

Daniel 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

Dear Lord,

I pray for President Donald Trump, for Governor Kate Brown, for the Senators and Representatives and those who are Judges, that You will fill their heart with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that they will please You in all that they do. I pray that they will make decisions as leaders of this wonderful country that will bring Your blessing on the United States of America and that we might become a godly nation once again. I pray that You will bring godly and wise people into their lives to counsel them and teach them Your truth and way. I pray that You will give all of them great strength to bear up under the huge pressure that surely must be upon them. I pray that You will deliver them from the control and temptations of the devil. I pray that You, Lord will be glorified and that Your Word and the Gospel will spread rapidly across our land and the world. I love you, Lord.

This is a picture of my computer screen during the first day of our ”Five Days of Prayer”. We have averaged 30 people praying every hour during our first 2 days of praying, and it has been a very powerful and enjoyable time. We are using a program called ”Zoom” which allows multiple people to converse together while showing our faces. We can do up to 100 people at one time if we ever have that many. One person prays at a time as the others listen and agree in their mind and their heart. If a person doesn’t feel comfortable praying out loud they can just listen and agree.

There are some major pluses for this system of praying. One is that there is no commute time to the church facility in order to pray which was a factor in all of our past prayer events, and kept many from participating much. Another really big plus for me is that I can hear everybody very clearly when they pray. In past prayer events I only heard about half the praying which made it hard to concentrate on the prayer and not fall asleep. One other plus is that each persons name is under their picture so you don’t have to worry about forgetting someones name as you pray with them.

We have 3 more days left in our ”Five Days of Prayer” so why not join us for part of it. We pray from 5 to 8 am and 5 to 8 pm. Each of the next 3 days. You can tune in for all of the hours or for 5 minutes, what ever you want. You have to have a meeting number and a password to get into the prayer meeting. If you email me at duke@jbc.church or text me at 503-559-5282 I will send it to you.

Prayer changes things, especially corporate prayer, it is the most powerful force on the planet earth. God obviously does the work, but not until we pray. It is His way of getting us involved in His work and to spend time with Him, He wants our time. Prayer also changes us, changes our character, changes our heart, changes our motives, again it is God who does the changing but He does it when we pray.

I have been asked this question often in the last month. I don’t know the answer to that question for sure, but some observations. God brought severe judgment on the world in the past, and the Bible promises very severe judgment from God in the future. Some don’t like the idea of a God who would judge a country or the world with disease, it doesn’t fit their picture of who God is, but check out this passage in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 2:21-24 I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

I remember the picture in the news of Governor Cuomo signing into law the right to abort a baby right up to the point of birth, and he and the city celebrated with glee. New York City has 60,000 abortions occur annually, and it seems to be the epicenter of this global pandemic, but it could just be coincidence, I don’t know.

Between Passover and Resurrection Sunday some models have predicted the US death toll will be very close to 3000 deaths per day, which is roughly the number of abortions performed per day in America. It could just be coincidence, I don’t know. If this Pandemic is from God it has a purpose, check out this Bible passage.

Psalms 78:31-34 The anger of God rose against them
and killed some of their stoutest ones. In spite of all this they still sinned and did not believe in His wonderful works. . .When He killed them, then they sought Him, and returned and searched diligently for God.

I am praying a lot during these days. I am not praying and asking God to take away the virus. I am praying that many, many people will turn to God and live with Him for all eternity, and escape from the ultimate judgment of God.

Revelation 20:15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

Our 4 times a year ” Five Days of Prayer” event starts tomorrow morning at 5 am. We have been having these prayer events for 30 years and this will be the first time doing it online via ”Zoom” as we pray together. Our praying together won’t really be together physically but in spirit and voice and visually via a computer screen. It will be interesting to see how this turns out, we will give it our most creative shot.

Gathering together is a major emphasis for the church in the New Testament. The writer to the Hebrews commands the churches who were experiencing persecution for their gathering together, never the less to not forsake gathering together. That gathering was for teaching, worship and especially for prayer. Gathering was commanded by God because He knew we would not grow or maintain our devotion to Christ on our own. I am becoming increasingly more discontent with this ”electronic gathering”, and I am not convinced at this point that it is a viable substitute for the real thing. But I am cooperating and I will be praying tomorrow for 6 hours looking and listening to people on a computer screen trusting in God to work powerfully in our nation, our State, our town and our church in spite of the lack of ”oneness” that God commands and values.

Hebrews 10:24-25 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

One of my major frustrations as a pastor over the last 40 years, who wants with all my heart for the people in JBC to grow in character, is the low value that many have put on ”gathering” in the past. People have looked at it as an option not a major necessity to know and experience God. Many have been haphazard in gathering for worship and teaching thinking that listening to worship music on the radio and sermon podcasts will do just fine. And people have especially been apathetic about praying together, thinking that praying by themselves is enough, it isn’t, but we will give this ”Zoom” thing our best shot and see what happens.

1 Timothy 4:7-10 ”discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”

I exercise for an hour every day, I fast for 24 hours 2 days a week, and I don’t eat anything with refined sugar in it. I figure I am going to die when it is God’s plan for me to die, but between now and then I want to be able to serve Him with a lot of energy and a sharp mind, so I am doing my part to help make it happen.

Exercise and diet are disciplines. Our physical bodies including our brains are hard-wired for comfort and easy, so anything outside of that requires discipline. That is why most don’t exercise or diet, to hard.

Our spiritual growth is like our physical growth and health. We need to read our Bibles every day, spend time with God every day in prayer, memorize scripture and meditate on it daily, read good books, listen to good sermons, listen to good music and worship, examine our life for sin and confess them to God every day.

We won’t do the spiritual disciplines unless we make a goal that is specific, read them every day, and share them with some friends who will hold us accountable.

Most don’t do the spiritual disciplines, and as a result they will grow at a very slow rate if at all. These verses describe the problem well.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Babies are born and normally weigh in the vicinity of 6 pounds, but then they start to grow and end up like me at a couple of hundred pounds. When I was in the 6th grade I was the second smallest kid in the class including the girls, but the next year I went on a growth spurt and grew 11 inches in one year. I went from being 5 feet tall to 5 feet 11 inches tall, and never grew a fraction of an inch more after that. But then I started growing in weight and strength, my eighth-grade year when I stopped growing in height I weighed right at 100 pounds and by the end of my Sophomore year in High School I weighed in at almost 200 pounds. Through those years I remember friends and family saying constantly, ”my how you have grown”!

Spiritual growth, becoming more and more like Jesus in character is patterned after the nature of physical growth. A baby takes quite a few years to grow physically and we take most of a lifetime to grow spiritually. Some observations; growth happens in spurts, it isn’t a nice consistent line climbing upward. Our spiritual life has seasons of radical growth, but a serious problem shows up at this point, the cause of our radical spiritual growth is almost always unpleasant to downright painful. Growth takes cooperation on our part. When I was growing 11 inches and 130 lbs in 4 years I cooperated with my physical body by eating, I ate a lot, all the time as my Mom said. I don’t know why I would have, but I could have chosen to not eat and then I wouldn’t have grown, simple as that. Spiritual growth spurts take place at the point of suffering, pain, and trials, almost always, but we can short circuit the whole natural process of spiritual growth by simply complaining, grumbling, and feeling sorry for ourselves. Simple as that.

This coronavirus thing has been driving me nuts, but it would be cool if this was possibly a time of a spiritual growth spurt, and when it is all over someone would look at me and say, ”My, how you have grown”!

The title of this blog doesn’t mean that I know when or even have a guess, but He is coming for sure for those of us who are His followers.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:50–53  Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

There are many things written in the Bible about the conditions that will exist when Jesus does come back and take us to heaven, they are called “the signs of the times” by those who study this topic.  One of them mentioned in the book of Daniel  is that things will be changing very rapidly, that certainly seems to be true now. Another major one is that the conditions in the world will get worse and worse, again which seems to be the case now.

2 Thessalonians 1:1–12  . . . your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God. . . . to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire . . . . when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed

This passage seems to indicate that when Jesus comes He will be “giving us relief from affliction”. It isn’t like we are being burned at the stake or anything that bad, but I certainly would rejoice if Jesus came back today. Every morning in my morning prayer of commitment a part of my prayer is, “I will live today as if it is the last one I have to grow and to accomplish before Jesus comes and takes me to heaven”. Those who manage trials the best are those who have their eyes on eternity, their new body, and being with Jesus.