Shaping of Things To Come + 3/2/2005 Mike Frost, co author of 'Shaping of Things to Come' shares some tips on being effective Christians in our community. #1  True Friends Befriending people who are not followers of God. Want to be a little Jesus? Go make serious genuine friendships with people who don't know Jesus. #2  The Poor Jesus was concerned about the poor. I would say you have to have a good hard look where your money goes.  Even if your a young person with not much money... that's no excuse. What percentage of the small amount that yov've got are you going to give to the poor, to missions overseas? Are you going to get involved in charitable acts and serve the community in your own neighbourhood? It's allowing your life to be a fountain that overflows with the love of Jesus in the lives of others. #3  Pray Hard Pray like crazy. Praying for your family, your neighbourhood, people you go to university, school or work with. It's about pouring your energy into other people than yourself. If you read the gospels that's what you find Jesus doing. #4  Find your Third Place In the West today we live our lives in three places.The first is our workplace, the second place is our home and the third place is where we go for leisure or sport or relaxation. It could be the gym, the pub or club, seeing bands or the beach. It's different places for different people. It's actually in that third place where people are much more open to share ideas, their guard is down, they're open to getting to know other people. People are saying the best place to be Jesus if you like is in the third place. In the Third place people are much more open to exploring those kind of issues. When you look at Jesus' life, it's exactly where he operates. At meal times, walking along the street, hanging out with people. You would be amazed how much of Jesus' ministry centres around food. Have a good think about where the third place is for you. Do you go to the gym, the beach, belong to the surf club, football team, netball team. Where is the third place in your life and how might you be a little Jesus in that place? Who you eat with and who you drink with are very essential places for you to model grace, love and justice. #5  Our Environment The Environment. Jesus is very concerned about the world he created. I think we need to make some serious commitments to how we take care of this planet that God has trusted to us. And that we take seriously how we spend our time, energy and money in the support of causes that care for the planet that God's given us.