Some time ago, I swung by a Target store to pick up a few things. Before I left, I stopped for a snack. I requested their #1 special--popcorn and small drink for $1.07. The young man behind the counter smiled as he took my order and said, "Best deal on the menu. It's like buying your drink and getting your delicious popcorn free. And it's freshly popped, too!"

I honestly think that man could have sold me almost anything at that moment, and I told him so. But as I drove away, I began to think about his sales technique and how much we as Christians could learn from him in the way we evangelize. So what did he do right?

1. He smiled. He seemed happy. Whatever he was doing in his own life appeared to be working, and at that moment I was sure that included eating at least one bag of popcorn each day. I wanted what he had. The world should want what we have, too, just by watching our lives.

2. He developed relationship.This young man took time to look me in the eye and talk straight to me. No matter how many customers he had had that day, I was the only one who mattered at that moment. I knew that he would take as long as was needed to help me get what I wanted. All over the world, people are waiting to matter to someone. If we give them that, we've got their ear.

3. He knew and believed in his product and wasn't afraid to say so. This stranger was surely no stranger to popcorn--this popcorn. He knew what he was talking about. I obviously wasn't hearing from someone who only liked the pretzels. And because of his familiarity and confidence, I felt immediately I was in good hands and could believe what he said. The world needs to see without a doubt that we know Jesus personally and we recommend Him highly. And our recommending should happen without fear!

4. He made my decision a personal one. I soon realized not only the value of buying #1, but also the wisdom in purchasing something so newly popped and relevant to what I was craving. By the time we as Christians make our sales pitch, the ones we are witnessing to should decide they haven't truly lived until they try what we're so sold on. Value and quality? How can they resist?

5. He enticed me with the fragrance. To other shoppers who weren't hungry for the popcorn or weren't ready to buy, the smell didn't necessarily bring them in. But to those of us who were drawn to the aroma, we found ourselves standing in line. It's kinda' like 2 Corinthians 2:15-16: "We are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To one we are the aroma of death. . . and to the other the aroma of life. . . " This young man left behind a wonderful fragrance of his popcorn, as well as his ability to sell it. So should we.

One of my most favorite verses in the Bible is John 12:32: " 'And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.' " This tells us that it's His job [the Holy Spirit's] to do the drawing, but it's our job to do the lifting.

Thank you young man behind the Target counter for your reminder that I need to work on my lifting technique.