From rshadian@hawaii.eduFri Oct 27 12:37:30 1995 Date: Fri, 27 Oct 1995 00:01:39 -1000 From: Ritchard Shadian To: Chi Alpha Subject: The Brotherly, volume FA95, issue 5 *** * * *** * *** ** * * * *** ******* ****** ****** ******* ** ** ******* ****** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ****** ******* ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ******* ***** ** ** ** ****** ******* ***** ** ** ** ******* ****** ** ** ** ****** ******* ****** ** *** ** ** ** ** ****** ** ** ** ** ** ** ****** *** ******* ** ** ****** ** ** ** ******* ** ** ****** *** THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA CHI ALPHA CHAPTER ______________________________________________________________________________ OCTOBER 26, 1995 VOLUME FA95 ISSUE NO. 5 ______________________________________________________________________________ I have only two words to say: send articles. Though you're probably as tired of hearing it as I am of writing it, I will continue to reiterate this message [send articles] until I see a greater contribution. Everyone has something to share and two weeks is PLENTY of time to send it. It can be short, long, funny, serious, and/or anonymous. I want you guys to help me make [send articles] this newsletter special. This week I got absolutely zero, except for my own article. For those who sent me stuff for earlier issues, I thank you and I ask you for more material if you can swing it. For those who never sent anything, get with it. This plea goes out to ALL [send articles] on the mailing list. For those who live in other states, your input is welcome as well. Let us know how you've been doing. Please, I need stuff. If I can send something out every two weeks, so can you. If you have several things to share, send them all and I'll put them into an article series. ----------------- | ANNOUNCEMENTS | ----------------- THE BEST MEAL HERE, THERE, OR THERE ------------------------------------ Remember, this Saturday (10/28) is our progressive dinner. Pickup is at 4:30 pm at Chi Alpha corner (between Wainani I and F). Remember to bring the item [send articles] that you signed up for. Invite your friends, invite your pastor and his family, but don't invite your pets. If you have access to a car, please bring it. We're expecting a lot of people and we need the transportation. Once again, we meet at UH, go to Amy's for appetizers, go to Craig's for the main dish, and return to Jen's for desert. Thanks to those [send articles] who have offered their homes for our destruction---uh, I mean, use. KNOW YOUR SALT -------------- For those who were considering attending the the Chi Alpha West Coast SALT conference at the end of the year, I hope you've made a decision because we're taking a final count at the general meeting this Friday (10/27). You don't have to pay yet, but we would like to know if you are going [send articles] to come so that we can make the flight arrangements. The cost is not yet set in stone, but count on $150 for the conference and about $300 for the airfare [send articles]. AH, THE STARS, THE BUGS, THE RAIN --------------------------------- Tentatively scheduled, very tentatively, is a Veteran's Day weekend campout. We don't know where or for how long but it is an idea. Stay tuned for details. If you want to help in the planning [send articles] then come to the next planning meeting on Monday, November 6 at 7:00 pm in Wainani I lounge. BEACH DAY --------- On Saturday, November 4, a few people are going to North Shore. Come along, and bring your friends. This is not a formal event, just [send articles] a few people having fun. ______________________________________________________________________________ ------------ | FEATURES | ------------ [send articles] One and only one: mine ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ KEEPIN' WITH THE TIMES by Ritchard Shadian In my last two installments, I devoted time to discussing how to approach various types of non-believers with Jesus' gospel message. First, I discussed the seekers, the most receptive group and the easiest to share with (see issue 3). Next, I discussed the apathetic, the most difficult group to share with (see issue 4). This time I will discuss the third group --- the hostile. These are the ones that say "get out of my face!" the minute you mention the name of God. Though these are the least receptive to the gospel they are not, as it seems, the hardest to touch and are, in fact, only a breed of seekers. Hostile non-believers are generally characterized by an angry or mocking tone and a very argumentative demeanor. As I see it, they fall into two categories: those that argue for no reason, and those that argue with reason. After speaking with a person for a few minutes, one should be able to identify which sub-group that person belongs in. The former will usually argue merely for the sake of arguing. If we start to answer one set of questions, another unrelated set of questions will arise. Any answer we give will be twisted and shot back at us no matter how much sense it may or may not make. If we find yourselves confronted by this type of non-believer, it is best not to continue. This person is not looking for good answers, but looking for a question that can't be answered, gloating if and when he or she finds it. Instead of being persuasive, we'll end up frustrated and may even conduct ourselves in an unholy manner. The only action we can take is prayer that God will soften a hard heart. As for the latter group, those that argue with reason, we should not be frightened by their intial response. It is perfectly normal to be defensive; after all we are presenting some very offensive news: that Jesus is the one and only Lord and that people are accountable to Him alone. This is a truth many find difficult to swallow. What triggers the hostile response is usually something deep inside that we must get at in order to make any progress. At the core, everyone is a child of God and everyone is the property of God. If someone is resistant at the very mention of God, there must be a reason behind it, and naturally we should try to find out what that reason is. Whether it's a bad experience with a church, a letdown by a friend, over-zealous parents, or something else, all outside barriers are stripped away and fronts come tumbling down once we've established the root of the problem. Sometimes people don't want to reveal their private hurts, but other times people want to discuss it with someone who is willing to listen becuase they are, under all pretense, a seeker. Sometimes we will be bombarded with all sorts of questions as a test: a test to see whether we know enough about our belief to defend it adquately, and whether we do it in a manner which shows that our actions back up our words (see 1 Pet. 3:15ff) Above all, don't be intimidated. We can't answer every question, but we can show that we do believe with all our heart. Often hostility is only a product of a deep hurt. Ministering to that hurt, will be more effective than arguing in circles. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [send articles] There, now that wasn't so hard, was it? I need your articles as well. Send them to me. Please? In Christ, Ritchard (rshadian@Hawaii.Edu) ============================================================================== Mailing list address: chi_alpha@Hawaii.Edu World Wide Web page: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~rshadian/chialpha/homepage.html