The Ultimate Treasure Hunt

Today, I received and began reading Kevin Dodman's The Ultimate Treasure Hunt. The book describes an approach to evangelism that's centered on using words of knowledge to identify "treasure," that is, candidates for ministry. Once a candidate is actually located, teams using the approach minister physical or inner healing, prophecy, or such other gracelets as may be needed and available.

Tonight, as usual every other Wednesday, I dropped by my weekly kinship just to make contact and then skipped out to a nearby mall, this time with a view to trying a treasure hunt. The approach is designed for teams of 3-4 people but, lacking partners, I decided to give it a go solo rather than wait.

I readily got several clues to the identity of the night's treasure:

• Location: near a particular store in the mall
• Name: Bob (unsure of this)
• Appearance: brown and green clothes
• Prayer need: foot (right?)
• Unusual clues: something to do with the voice or talking

I walked to the designated location, where I found convenient brown and green benches. I wondered if that meant the clue regarding appearance pertained to the benches rather than the treasure. But I ultimately decided that I had heard God correctly the first time.

I decided to wait as long as 30 minutes, about 20 minutes before closing of the mall. Although I watched my surroundings carefully, no one wearing the proper color clothing appeared during my wait. I did see a man with a limp that seemed to be due to a problem with his right foot. In retrospect, I should have investigated that near match. I suppose that's lesson #1.

During my wait, I developed a headache, a symptom I almost never suffer. At first, I thought it might point to another treasure nearby. But then, I considered that it might be an attempt of the enemy to distract or disable me, a possibility suggested by a team member on another occasion and which was subsequently borne out. So, I rebuked the headache and commanded it to leave, which it promptly did. After 5-10 minutes it returned at lesser strength. I rebuked it again and it did not return a second time.

So, my first experience with treasure hunting produced mixed results, at best. Nevertheless, I am encouraged and look forward to opportunity to hunt in company of a team that can bring to bear a wider range of gifts and abilities.

Blessings,

Freely You Received

While on my way to the mall at lunch time to practice prophetic evangelism, I encountered a pedestrian waiting to cross the street in the path of my planned right turn. I made eye contact and motioned to let her know that I would yield the right of way so that she could cross.

As she crossed, she approached the passenger-side window of my car and gestured by way of requesting that I lower the window. Not having recently lowered the window, I had some difficulty figuring out how to do so. When I finally got the window down, she explained that the bus she had hoped to take to a nearby city would not honor her transfer ticket and she lacked the money to purchase the necessary fare.

I told her that I'd give her what I had, which was only a little over $10. She thanked me and I said a brief blessing over her.

During lunch I reflected on this encounter and, at first, I was a bit discouraged. I keep telling God that I'm on duty 24x7 and He keeps bringing me people when I think I'm on a five-minute break, so to speak. If I'd been better prepared, I might have been able to verbally share something of more significance with this woman or otherwise minister more significantly to her need. But, perhaps God knew that I'd err by saying or doing too much, if given the chance. I did my best and I have to trust that He will use what I did to bring about His purpose for her life.

Some readers may be concerned about my decision to give money to a panhandler, who may use the money to purchase drugs or debauchery of some kind. Or worse yet, the woman may have been a scammer. I've heard cases of scammers quickly and effortlessly gathering considerable sums through making fraudulent pleas.

But, some time ago, I decided it was better to be defrauded of $10 ninety-nine times than fail to give $10 to someone who truly needs it. Jesus said, "Freely you received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8). This saying is commonly applied to ministry but I believe it applies equally well to anything we're capable of giving. In one sense, we have earned our wages. But, in another and more important sense, we have nothing that came by any means other than grace. It all belongs to Him and I'm blessed that today Jesus gave me a small opportunity to demonstrate what I believe.

Blessings,