When I meet someone, I first ask, “How are you, how did you get here, where are you headed…?” That’s usually on a plane, or something. “You’re going to see your grandkids, isn’t that fun at Thanksgiving?” I just met a lady on the plane to Nashville yesterday, we talked about this. You find out where they come from, what brought them here, and how did your lives intersect. Don’t ask “that” question, “that” might scare them. It could lead to a really deep, wonderful conversation where you could plant seeds in someone’s life. You don’t always have to harvest. Everybody wants to harvest, so we [get to] have that notch on our belt. “I had 35 saves this weekend…” Instead, sometimes you just water. Sometimes you plant, and every now and then you get to harvest and see someone come to know the Lord.

It’s fun to be dug into, too. I enjoy that. [Andrew] dug in on that [Features On Film] we had, to where it made me think of things I’d never asked myself. Then I got to hear what I believe on that. I like that. It’s fun to dig, and it’s fun to be dug.

AG: You talk about the lady on the plane, and us listening and learning to listen, which inspires good conversation. I think conversation that kind of dialogue and interaction with people can create an open channel for the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is beyond my comprehension, how It works and moves. Then that takes away my responsibility, too. To have interactions with people that then gives this open platform for the Sprit to do what It’s going to do. I get to just relax into it and enjoy it.

ML: Nobody’s eternity is now resting on my shoulders, and it used to. I can just love people for where they are, and maybe turn them one degree even. It’s a little bit. Well, I’ll tell you a story. I was with Tony Campolo. We were in England. This guy walks up to us out of nowhere and starts talking to us about the Lord, but he needed the Lord. He evidently knew Tony had some anointing, or something, I don’t know. He starts talking to Tony and me about the Lord. We prayed with the guy, he didn’t come to know the Lord in that moment. It was the most horrendous story. This guy came from nowhere, and he was going to nowhere. Where he came from, there was no family, and he was headed toward a place where there was no family. No one waiting for him. It was a very sad story.

Mark Lowry, Andrew Greer, CCM Magazine - image

photo: Kelly Jobe

I left that conversation heavy, kind-of sad for the fella. Tony left skipping. I said, “How do you hear something like that, and it doesn’t weigh you down?” He said, “He’s not my problem,” which [at that time] I thought was kind-of cold and awful. But it’s the truth. He’s God’s problem. You’re not my problem, you’re not my kid, you’re God’s kid. I’m not gonna spank you, because you’re not my kid. Boy, that frees you up when you realize, “You know what, I’m gonna tell you the Good News—but you believe it or not, not my problem.” That way I can love you without an agenda. I love you…I can love you…it isn’t love if there’s an agenda. It isn’t love. If the only reason I love is so I can win you to my way of thinking, that’s not love.

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