What do you do with good news? I'm an "early adopter." When I hear about something that I know will benefit others, I tweet it and talk about it.

When something is obviously true, you feel a certain confidence or boldness in talking about it. Some people feel that way about getting out of debt or global warming. Dave Ramsey has become a superstar by mixing practical advice with evangelistic conviction.

When the truth you're talking about is immediately beneficial to others, you feel not only confident, but you also feel a compulsion to talk to them.

Thus in the book of Acts, we repeatedly see the disciples proclaiming* the good news about Jesus. As Peter said, "We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. (4:20)

The fact that they had seen and heard Jesus change lives made their message irrepressible. They just couldn't help talking about it.

I've been to a few countries where this same dynamic is in full force. In parts of India and China, the disciples there can't help speaking about what they've seen and heard. Like the blind man Jesus healed, they may not know much about him, but they can say, "One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see!"

In places like Seattle and New York City, you don't often hear that kind of conviction. What you hear instead is second-hand, almost apologetic faith. It seems as though a lot of people haven't seen or hear much of Jesus there. Whatever they're believing may not really be worth much anyway. And if it isn't good news, but some stale, religious dogma, maybe it's not worth hanging onto.

When was the last time you saw someone finding out that what Jesus can do for you is really good news? For most people, seeing is believing.

* Acts 5:42 for example.