Some "pastorable moments" are planned. Others show up unannounced. All are use-'em-or-lose-'em situations, precious opportunities of unusual openness in a person's life to hear from God. Or they're occasions when someone can benefit from a Christian truly living like a Christian.

I asked long-time pastor Warren Wiersbe what situations he's seen that provide windows of ministry opportunity. He listed several: "life crises, promotions, anniversaries, mild disagreements, reading the identical book or magazine article, an 'accidental meeting' at a coffee place or the doctor's office, or a current news story people are talking about."

Recently Eric Reed and I met Phil Busbee, pastor of First Baptist Church of San Francisco, who learned that a gay and lesbian community center was being opened right across the street from his church. He realized it was a pastorable moment.

When he met the director of the center, Phil introduced himself and said, "We're going to be neighbors, and I hope we can be ...