Traveling to Chicago to visit family can be fun, especially when birthday cake is involved. Last weekend, there were two, one for my niece and one for my aunt. You probably know someone like my aunt, she is one of those really nice people who does not know the Lord. Perhaps you've made attempts to tell someone like my Aunt about Jesus. Perhaps you've had better success than I.

Well, she introduced us a beautiful 4 lb. puppy that she named Grace. 4 pounds!!! I've made sandwiches heavier than this dog. Grace couldn't be more adorable. She told my dad and I that Grace is short for My Amazing Grace, because her sister (my mom) sent her from Heaven.

If that's not an opportunity to talk about Gods grace, I don't know what is, so my mind started churning, but I came up empty.

However, last night, I was awake at 3:30 am, and I've been having some really good ideas pop into my head lately in the middle of the night. The night before last I came up with a great name for my wife's jewelery making business. But last night, God gave me another idea. There's a book by Philip Yancey called "What's So Amazing About Grace" that I've heard good things about. I plan on sending this book to my Aunt with a little note on the inside cover, something to the effect that "I'll be praying that this book helps you discover that it is God's Grace that is truly amazing."

It really would be amazing if that dog named Grace became the catalyst that led my Aunt to the arms of Jesus.

From the day my Mom, Caryl, died 9 months ago, I've noticed a change in my Dad. He is an example of how to lean on God during the tough times in life. He has also been purposefully trying to lead others to Christ, and the way he is doing so is so sweet and loving that I just know it has to be the Holy Spirit working through him.

Case in point is a Christmas card he sent to my mom's brother who is down on his luck. In the card was some money, and this message. This is a perfect illustration of Christ's love lived out in a follower.

Please consider this a gift from your beloved sister Caryl; a gift requires no return favors. It is from her heart that still lives within me. I have enclosed a Bible tract. Some call this tract The Romans Road to Heaven. Caryl knew this road, and took it. God gave us a gift  the gift of salvation through Christ whose birth we celebrate. This gift too requires no return favors, only a grateful, repentant heart. I pray you are on this road.

Sometimes, on my way out the door of my office building for my uber-healthy bike commute, a buddy of mine is standing by the exit smoking a cigarette. The routine is to ask him if I can bum a cig for my bike ride home if he doesn't beat me to it and offer one to me. As with most of my great jokes, this one just never gets old.

However, in light of close friends and family members suffering from lung cancer, I decided to tell him of the hazards of smoking the last time he stopped by for a visit - as if he didn't know. During our conversation, I kept thinking, why is it any harder to tell him - or anyone - about something much more important - Jesus? As if he didn't know. That's right. Not only should I tell him about Jesus, but I should talk to him as if he didn't know.