Now You Can Be the Salt of the Earth...Literally!

A new month, no wait, a whole new year is right around the corner! Maybe a New Year's resolution to begin doing monthly P.A.C.K. events in 2018! Planned Acts of Christian Kindness or (P.A.C.K.) is a great fun way to share both the love and the grace of Jesus Christ with everyone in your community.

Through the doing of a helpful service or the giving of a simple gift to someone; anyone and everyone that the Holy Spirit sends your way they can experience the loving hands of Jesus reaching out to them at that very unusual time and place!

Who does this sort of thing anymore? Sad to say very few of us take the time to help even someone who is obviously in need much less those who appear not to be in need of anything! It is in this refreshing approach that God's Spirit is able to do amazing things. Sort of like punching up a recipe by adding extra seasoning!

As Christians we are already the recipient of the greatest gift there could ever be, a close and personal loving relationship with our almighty creator. Through His Word and Spirit we receive a love that is so strong and a peace that is so calming that it far exceeds even our own understanding. All too often we forget or take for granted the loving sacrifice that Jesus freely made on the cross so we may receive these priceless gifts. We fail to live our lives in such a way as to reflect these God given blessings unto all others so they may see and come into His Light. God's Word reminds us how we are to do just that:

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. 

So for those of us who live in the snowy icy parts of the world we literally have a way to be the salt of the Earth when it comes to sharing God's blessings with everyone around us!

This is what we have been doing for many years here in Green Bay, WI. USA. To hold the cost down our church purchases about 500#'s of salt in bulk bags in early January and then a couple of days before our event we rebag it into around 100 clear 4 mil heavy duty zip lock poly bags (10" x 14"), Here is one possible supplier: https://store.belsonco.com/Shop/PPB3777-C865.aspx , In itself this is a great group activity!

On that coming Saturday morning our group will head on over to our local Kwik Trip Minimart where they have always graciously allowed us to set up in their parking lot. (We have developed a great relationship with them over the years through the purchasing of their bread and handing it out around Christmas and Easter at a number of their store locations.)

We typically start around 11 AM with the hopes it is a little warmer by then! We will have volunteers of all ages including a number of youth from our school / confirmation class. Some will be busy holding up large "Free Salt" signs trying to draw motorists in. Others will be handing out bags of salt along with our "Connect Cards" to people filling up their vehicles at the pumps, going into the store and even those who simply drive up to our truck and roll their window down! Many can't believe it truly is free! It is so easy to come back with: "We are sharing the love & grace of Jesus with you today, which just like the salt, cannot be bought or earned at any price!"

The "Connect Card" delivers that message to the recipient along with providing them with a warm invite to come to our place of worship where they can learn more of the uniquely special love that Jesus has for them. We call this simply Care-Share-Connect! This is just one of many ideas in the free P.A.C.K. program. Please make 2018 the year for action and start bringing Christ alive in your community! Simply sign up at: https://acts18.org/christian-kindness/ and the link to the program will immediately be provided and also sent to you in an e-mail. God bless your service to His glorious Kingdom!