Day by Day

2011-09-27T09:49:00.000-07:00

I know I ordinarily use this blog to talk about my personal evangelism adventures. Today, I am using it to promote a free movie that talks about the Gospel and sins' effect on our world. Please take 33 minutes of your time to watch "180 the Movie." Thanks to Ray Comfort and the entire team at Living Waters Ministries for putting this film together and making available free of charge. For more information on the work of Living Waters, please visit their website.

Off Script

2011-08-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

There is usually a pretty consistent pattern to my evangelism: The Good Person Test, the confirmation of guilt and judgment, and the Gospel. But there are plenty of times when the Lord "calls an audible." For my non-American-Football-fan readers, this means that He will prompt me to do something that I know how to do but wasn't planning to do and it works out a lot better than what I had planned.

Such was the case yesterday at Payless. I was purchasing socks (I think that God created menial tasks like buying clothes just to make sure we keep interacting with people He wants saved). One of the young ladies there made me want to hide my eyes. Fortunately, she was only around for a few seconds, and she wasn't the cashier.

That lady told me that the reason they were slow was that it wasn't time yet to get busy: come 6 PM, they would have no time to even restock, much less take it easy and chat. With that in mind, I decided that she was ripe for a diversion: the Good Person Test.

She agreed to take it. She was sobered when I told her that hating another makes one a murderer, but then she tried to justify it. She described the offense, and I understood. But then I asked her if she could forgive the person, if she asked her to.

"I could forgive, but I could never forget."

I have heard that many times. So I asked her to consider that Jesus had said that we would only be forgiven as much as we forgave others. I asked her to think about what God had done for us, becoming one of us to redeem us for our sins against Him, a process which involved--get this--being mistreated by us directly. So that He could forgive us all.

She had to admit that she had never considered that before.

The other girl had come up during our conversation, so she got to hear that part. She was on the far side behind the counter, so I didn't have to fight with my eyes about anything. I thanked God for that.

I urged the cashier to read the Word and take it more seriously. Then I bid them adieu, though I said it in English. =P

Thank you for your prayers.

A Twist

2011-03-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

You never know where obedience to God will lead you.

I was at my bank this morning conducting business when I noticed one of the tellers drinking from a mug with the bank logo on it. I forget what question I asked about the mug, but it was something silly, and I expected the conversation to stay that way.

But it didn't.

She told me that she had had two previous glass mugs, but the cleaning guy broke both of them, so she was using the plastic mug, which she knew wouldn't break. I said something sarcastic about not being able to store anything valuable, and then she told me the full story.

She and her husband had gone to Las Vegas and purchased there the commemorative mugs featuring Cris Angel, the magician.

I said that I wasn't too sure that the maintenance guy had broken them. Nervous laughter ensued. "Cris is into some pretty evil stuff, so..."

"Don't be messin' with my boyfriend," she said, playfully. But that is a serious statement.

So I said, "Hmm...let's see...'Thou shalt not covet,' 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,' how many more commandments shall we break today?" as the nervous laughter continued.

I immediately knew that two of other tellers were siding with me. One I have known to be a Christian because she is a frequent guest at Cracker Barrel, the other I had suspected because I wear my Jesus-proclaiming T-shirts to the bank all the time, and she had seemed to be amicable. I was saying what they had wished to say but could not for fear of offending a coworker.

Then the first teller noticed my T-shirt. It says on the front, "WARNING: THE BACK OF THIS SHIRT MAY OFFEND YOU." Curious, and wanting to end the other conversation, she asked what it was about. I told her that it speaks of Judgment Day. Of course, she wanted to read the back, so I turned around and let all three of them stare. (You can read the words on the tract that goes with the T-shirt here.)

The first teller complimented it. I pray that she will not soon forget it. Please pray for her, too.

Bearing Fruit

2011-01-18T12:46:00.001-08:00

For almost as long as I have been doing street evangelism, the question has come from Christians who see me, "What is the fruit?" Usually, I refer them to 1 Corinthians 3, which tells us that God is the One who gives the increase, neither the sower nor the waterer are anything--and I have no idea which one I am at the time, but I know I am not God, so the issue of fruit does not particularly bother me, so long as I am faithfully presenting the truth of God's Word.

The easiest way for me to do that, of course, is to just read the Scriptures. I do that out loud in front of the Scientology headquarters in Clearwater almost every Monday. Sometimes, people get upset; other times, people mock; more ignore me; still, there are others who encourage me.

Like that man who offered me a cup of coffee last night. Or the couple that gave me $60 on the spot to give to my church (yep).

That came after a man with really awful timing insisted that I didn't need to read aloud on the street corner, because they have so many Bibles in the Scientology complex. I responded that they obviously were not reading them too well, or else they would not be involved in that garbage (yes, I said it that way). Then I read on. I realize that I was in the chapter of Amos which describes the encounter he had with a priest who tried to discourage him. The curse that God put on that priest was rather frightening, especially as I considered the living, flesh-and-blood man who had just walked in the footsteps of this priest. May he repent so that none of those things befall him.

I do thank God for the love He has given to those of us who do this for those who are perishing. Phyllis E. (who is going to hate me for embarrassing her) was not feeling well at all, but she would not stay home. I am glad she did not. Toward the end of our night, a young woman stopped as we continued a rather long and trying conversation with a self-righteous homeless man named Greg (you can pray for him--in fact, I am asking you to do so, because he is so deceived). She had passed by earlier as Phyllis was witnessing to some little boys, only one of whom spoke English (the other two, Italian; yes, he could translate). I had handed her a tract, and she had moved on.

When she came back and stopped and stood there, I beckoned her over. "Can I ask you a question? If you were to die today, where would you go?"

"To Hell," she said, trembling.

"Is that bothering you?"

She nodded as she fought back tears. I told her that I would wait for Phyllis (and Pat) to finish with Greg, and then have the ladies talk to her. I did not want to be a distraction in a moment meant only for Jesus.

Suddenly, Greg was no longer eager to leave, after we had prayed for him. So, when he had turned his head a bit, I sneaked Phyllis out of the conversation (sorry, Pat) to talk to Brandy.

Phyllis asked her about her background, made sure she understood her state before God, and then that she understood the Good News of Jesus' Redemption for us. Then we prayed for Brandy, and then she prayed. We gave her a New Testament and some words of encouragement, and she went her way.

As I was driving away, I saw her sitting on a bench reading that New Testament. I wonder if she is homeless. I do know she had food. I also know that she is in the hands of the Lord, and, though it is impossible for me to help her anymore at this time, I know that He is every thing she needs and will supply all her physical needs. Please lift her up, too.

God bless you.

Wrong Place, Right Time

2011-01-14T13:39:00.001-08:00

I don't think I have mentioned that the open mic thing got derailed a little bit before the holidays. The host establishment apparently had a problem with the M.C., so he took it to another place. Well, I didn't hear about that place on time, so I missed it. So I tried to catch up with it, but it wasn't there, either. But that's where things started getting good.

I had worked a pretty hard shift and was preparing for a double the next day. My feet were hurting, and my laundry wasn't quite done. To top it off, I had put something in the oven and had to wait even longer for it. I didn't know that they were holding the open mic at another place, so I was worried about getting a late slot and being pushed back to midnight (happens sometimes), in which case, I would not have stayed because I had to be at work at 9AM. So I thought about not going.

I decided to go anyway. On the radio, the DJ was reading from Luke the story of Jesus calling Peter and John. She pointed out that one Word from the Master can change everything, from the frustrating, endless night of fruitless effort to an abundance so great that the nets were breaking and the ships were sinking. I pondered that, but I didn't think it had much to do with me, though the thought did occur to me that it might.

I arrived, and the place did not look like it was hosting an open mic. From the outside, there were too few cars. Looking in did not reveal any setup that usually accompanies it. I decided to take a closer look. Superficial glances have cost me before, so I investigated fully before giving up. Turned out to be a good choice.

As I walked in the door, one of the patrons said, "Oh, look! A guy with a guitar!"

I just kind of stood there, not knowing what to do or say. "Hello." It was polite, at least.

The bartender came out, and the patron made sure she knew I was there. She immediately realized that I was chasing the open mic, and she apologized. She explained that they had only had it the week before as a trial run, but it had failed.

The patron offered to buy me a beer if I would play a song. I gently refused. The man in front of me suggested a Sprite. I agreed to those terms! The barkeeper poured me the beverage, and I stood at the entrance to the dining room, which was empty and closed (at that hour, everyone there just wanted to drink and talk).

I was nervous, so I played my good ol' stand by: "The Rain Song," by Day of Fire. They loved it.

So I played "Born Again" and "Cry Out to Jesus," both by Third Day. Either they were sloshed or they weren't paying attention to the words (or both), but they loved them, too. So much so, that the guy who had suggested the Sprite told me that they were taking up a collection so I could keep playing. Twenty dollars. Nice. That covered most of the gap between what I had wanted to earn serving earlier in the day (hard work does not always mean big money).

The barkeeper apparently called her boss, because she said he wanted my contact information, and he wasn't there. She said that they had been looking for some dependable music for a while, and he wanted to talk to me. I gave her my cell and my email address. The I played Chris Tomlin's "All Bow Down." She videotaped part of that one and emailed it to her boss (technology these days: that was with just her phone!).

Then I was repeatedly complimented. During that conversation, they noted that I was loud enough to be heard vocally without a microphone (usually that doesn't happen, but the empty dining room behind me helped a lot, and I was deliberately louder, knowing the challenge from experience). Then someone asked for one more song. I gave them Steven Curtis Chapman's "Remembering You" (from the Narnia soundtrack). They loved that, too, even though I blew the bar chords twice (apparently, people who are not musicians don't notice musicians' mistakes unless the musician reacts to them or points them out himself; I didn't).

It was getting late, so I bid them adieu. I had put tracts in my jacket, not knowing if they would allow me to give them out or not. Well, the barkeeper was smoking a cigarette with two of the patrons, so I went for it, giving them the "Get Out of Hell Free" cards from One Million Tracts. I handed them to the two smokers and the barkeeper, too, on my way out. Then, I praised the Lord, all the way home.

Now, I am not counting on landing the gig regularly. I did explain that I only know Contemporary Christian music, though they did not seem to hold it against me at the time. I don't know what the boss's schedule is or if the barkeeper got my information to him (sometimes things get lost). I just thank the Lord that I was so blessed with an opportunity to spread His Gospel to yet another group of people I did not know.

This is after being able to review some Scriptures with one of my younger coworkers as we manned the host station.

Oh, and I don't have to work that double. I did rather well on the shift that I picked up today, and then my manager asked if I would take the night off, because there were too many servers scheduled. Sweet!!

I wonder what I should do on a Friday night? ;)

Wow

2011-01-04T09:38:00.001-08:00

I resumed my reading aloud of the Book of Isaiah last night in downtown Clearwater. I actually went back one chapter, to 54, because I felt that the Lord wanted me to do so. On my way to the end of the Book, but not too far into my reading, a man stopped by and dismounted his bicycle and stood next to me as I read.

This has happened before. People are often curious. Somehow, even though I am being very loud, they are not afraid to approach me and read over my shoulder to see what passage I am reading at the time. Of course, I don't mind that they do that. I don't stop reading unless they try to talk, though. And I did not with him, either.

I finished the Book, and turned to him. He had been encouraging passersby, mostly Scientologists, to listen to what I was saying. This does not always mean that you have an ally, as Ray Comfort can attest. Sometimes, convicted hearts or even demonically influenced people can have an ulterior motive for seeming to be on your side as you preach the truth. Paul found this to be true in Acts 16. So I did not know what to make of this--so I let him talk.

David told me that he had been recently married and things had not necessarily been going very well. He had apparently come into contact with a Scientologist at the Clearwater Pier who had told him to go to a certain place and not to stop. Well, when he heard the Word of the Lord, it rang a bell, because he had had much time to read during his (unfortunately) frequent stops in the state penitentiary. He remained and listened because he knew that it was the truth that he needed to heed, and not the other stuff that other guy was trying to get him into.

I told him that I could not promise that God would heal his marriage. Jesus did say, after all, that a man must love God more than he loves his own wife. I told him that I could promise that God would bless him for obedience, whether his family was restored or not. Then he spoke of how God had commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. I asked him if he remembered the other sacrifice that God had asked Abraham to make long before that. He did. He remembered that God had told Abram to leave behind his old life to follow God wherever He would lead. And he knew that that was what God was calling him to do.

I asked him if he had a Bible. He does. I reminded him of Jesus words in John 8:30-36, that those who continue in His Word will prove themselves to be His disciples, escape the lies of the Enemy, and break the chains of sin. I reassured him of these promises before he departed. We had a long hug, and then he mounted his bicycle and went his way.

I turned to Kevin R,, who had stood by praying as the man talked with me. I was in shock and amazement. I have never seen that before, but, as Scott said when I shared it with him, that is why we go. Praise the Lord!!!!

Into the Ditch

2010-11-03T06:53:00.001-07:00

Monday evening, we were back in downtown Clearwater, singing and praising God before we split into teams. A man on his bicycle stopped to watch us, and Josh P asked him to join us, and he did. After the praise time had ended, Josh began to discuss with the man eternity and Jesus Christ. The man knew something of it, but we all could tell that something was wrong. Then the man mentioned Kenneth Copeland.

I don't know how many people know of his ministry, but Mr. Copeland believes that we have the same power as Jesus to cure diseases and other earthly ailments, particularly the afflictions we suffer ourselves--nevermind that John the Apostle did not die of persecution, that Paul's request of healing was denied, that Jesus Himself promised us tribulations and afflictions, and that God doesn't promise life without death, but resurrection. All these things I mentioned to Dave, but he insisted that he (and we) have been given the power to do greater works that Jesus Himself. Now, Jesus did say that (John 14:12), but what would be the purpose of those works? To show the Father to the world, which is what Jesus Himself came to do. Then I asked Dave a question:

"Jesus raised people from the dead, and you are talking about foot pain. How is this doing greater works than Jesus?"

He tried to bluff, but he could not answer. So I firmly told him, "You are serving yourself, you are not serving the Lord, and you need to repent." That ended our exchange.

I was greatly saddened by that man. He has swallowed a lie because he has not believed the whole Word of God. "WithHis stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5) and "by Whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24) are either falsehoods from God (because Christians die from various ailments everyday) or a deeper promise than a remedy for earthly nuisances. Jesus promised us eternal life, not the easy life. Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, etc., do not believe that, but we must, if we expect to find God true to His Word.

Divine Delay

2010-10-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

I had agreed to help a friend get the vast majority of her belongings sent ahead of her to Wisconsin, where she will move when she is married. We had agreed to start at 10 AM, but changed our plans to 9 AM. Well, the U-Haul truck wasn't ready until 10 AM, and this is why we were early.

Caren was raised Catholic, left it as a teen, got confounded by life, and returned to her roots as she is now finishing up college. Vero handed her some tracts, and we had a pleasant conversation for a while. The man who had the truck we needed had returned, so Caren went out to see when he would finish. Vero then mentioned that she had wanted to ask her about what happens after death. I noted the time and said that we would get the chance to ask.

When she returned, the conversation did not immediately turn to life after death, so I turned it there, since we had only about ten minutes left. I asked her what she would say to God if He should ask her why He should let her in.

She said that she felt that she was a pretty good person, some mistakes, but nothing "morally wrong. Well, I mean..., well, kinda morally wrong..."

"Like what?"

"Um.."

"Have you ever lied?"

"Yes."

"What does that make you?"

"A liar."

"Have you ever stolen something?"

"No. I haven't done that."

"You're not lying to me, are you?"

"No." Then a smile. "No, I don't think I have. Well, maybe...I have never taken anything from a store..."

"When I was a kid, my mom told me I couldn't have some candy: I waited until she wasn't looking, and I took it anyway. So that makes me a thief."

"Yeah, I'm sure I maybe took something that I don't remember."

She had mentioned that she has had a boyfriend who gave her a promise ring four years ago (meaningless article, that thing), so, with Vero sitting there, I felt comfortable asking her, "Have you ever committed fornication?"

She winced. "Yes."

"Have you ever hated someone?"

"Yes."

"Did you know that the Bible says that if you hate someone you are a murderer?"

"No, I didn't know that."

"First John, chapter three, verse fifteen. So, how do you think you will fare before God?"

"I think I'll be okay. I mean, I'm not really bad..."

"You just told me that you are a liar, maybe a thief--and when God roles the tape, there might be something there--a fornicator, and a murderer."

"Well, that's why Jesus died for our sins." Bingo. I let her continue, and then Vero reinforced her answer with an illustration. "What is your hardest subject? [Science.] Say you failed to study for an exam, and you put down all the wrong answers, but you were next to someone who studied well, and put down all the right answers, and then switched tests with you, putting her name atop yours and you putting your name on hers. Then she would get the score that you deserved, but you would get the score that she deserved. That is what Jesus did for us on the cross."

I explained that Jesus didn't stop there: He sent His Holy Spirit to live inside us to help us to walk in righteousness, no longer practicing the things that displease God.

Then Caren asked me a question I have never heard in five years of fervent evangelism. "So what would you say before God? You seemed like you would have nothing to say."

She was right. Usually, though, people would accuse me of being self-righteous, as if I had not admitted to being guilty. I couldn't tell you that I used a different delivery. She just had a humble heart.

I confirmed that I would have nothing to say. I stand in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Period. My righteousness is as filthy rags (I reference Isaiah 64:6). Paul said that those who do what is right, prove that they know what is right, and therefore condemn themselves even more when they do what is wrong (Romans 2). I have no excuses before God. I should go to Hell. But God in His great mercy sent His only begotten Son to take away my sin, and thus the consequence.

I am still amazed by her humility. I am praying for her and her boyfriend, and for the guy and his girlfriend who had been using the truck (they are planning to move to California; I handed him a Gospel tract). Will you please join me?

As You Go

2010-09-10T10:08:00.001-07:00

It is that time of year again: time for Pinellas County to over-chlorinate their water. Not a big deal to people who don't usually drink tap water, unlike me, but a pain to have to go lug gallons of water from the store to my home. A mile and a half is a long way to carry a 24-pack from Aldi, so, this year, I have taken the bus on my return trips.

On my last trip, I sat across from a young couple who were talking to each other. I wanted to witness to them, but I didn't have any tracts to hand them, and I didn't want to rudely interrupt their conversation, and speaking to them would require elevating my voice, because of the noise of the traffic. So I nodded to greet them, then waited and prayed.

The girl asked about seeing the bus when it approached, so I told her that she should see it as it crests the hill, because it does come straight down US 19 at that point. Then I noticed the wound on her left elbow and the bandages on her right, so I asked her about them. She fell. She suffers grand mal seizures caused by epilepsy. Ouch.

We talked for a bit about the hindrances, costs, and dangers caused by that disease. Then I remembered the hope of the Resurrection:

When Jesus rose from the dead, He defeated sickness and death and sin. It is because of Him that we have hope for a better future, when He returns. They nodded in agreement. I didn't have much else to say on that subject.

Oddly for me, I had purchased a three-pack of gallon water jugs instead of the bottles, because they were cheaper. The girl mentioned being thirsty, so I gave them one of the jugs. She was extremely delighted, he was thankful. Apparently, they needed that much water, not just one bottle. I told them to consider it a gift from Jesus.

Divine appointments are found in the mundane, if we are open to them.

Oddities

2010-07-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

One of my managers ended a conversation a coworker and I were having about the Bible and Jesus' example last week, telling us that religion cannot be discussed on the job. Well, I've been only a little less eager to discuss Christ at work, and then I got the opportunity of a lifetime.

One of the servers had been very antagonistic towards me, because she loves her particular favorite sin and wishes that I would openly approve, but has lately become more...tolerant? I think that's the word. She lately has been teling people how much she misses me and has been rejoicing to see me and work with me. Big change from telling two managers that she had been working overtime for six months to get me fired.

Her change coincided with my demotion. I had been given the responsibility of closer, which means that I have no sidework, except what is left undone by others. Being a very strict person, I set some very high standards. She had to meet them if she wanted to leave. She objected--until she was given my position. I wasn't told why I'm not closing anymore, but it freed me up and it helped her understand why I'm so strict. Now, she is, too. And--get this--she trusts me to do my sidework, unlike almost any other coworker.

Anyway, it was her table that called me over after I had taken my table's order. The man, his wife, and the two girls (I'm thinking they were his granddaughters, but people are having children so late in life these days, I can't be sure) told me that they had been discussing with my coworker about having us all dress in Hooter's outfits.

Of course, I wasn't nearly as amused as they wanted me to be. My coworker tried to stop me from jumping down their throats, saying, "It's okay, Josh, have some fun," but I wasn't having it. I did have fun, though.

I told him that I would not wear it, that I don't want to see it, and that women should not wear it, either. So he asked me what I wear when I go swimming. Well, I can't swim. And I don't go to the beach.

The younger girl told me that I'm boring. I laughed. "That's what she thinks, too," indicating my coworker, who was still standing by. "I do have fun."

Of course, they had to ask what I think is fun. "Telling people about Jesus, and playing my guitar."

The immediate reaction from the man was the usual tap-dancing that goes on when someone who loves sin encounters someone who preaches holiness. A little blasphemy, a little mockery, a bit of feigned respect, and then right back to loving sin.

I decided to ignore it and add to my list. "Oh yeah, I play baseball, too" (which I paid $350 to do this year, but haven't gotten off the bench yet, but I didn't get to explain that).

"Softball?"

"No--real baseball: it's a smaller ball and they throw it really hard."

I had neglected to realize that he was wearing a softball tournament T-shirt. So, of course, the two young girls started laughing their heads off. I tried to apologize but to no avail.

Then he tried to blame the desire to go to Hooter's on the girls, saying that it was their idea and yet somehow they ended up at Cracker Barrel. Of course, they quickly and fervently denied it, but they didn't have to.

"Sir, between you and me, we both know what red blood does in our cells. Let's not blame the ladies." We parted ways amicably. That was fun. We laughed about it for a while in the back. Maybe someday, he and his family will find the joy that comes from witnessing for Jesus.

Drunken Parties

2010-06-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Not just one, but two.

No, I haven't gone off the deep end, but I was invited to a pair of birthday parties that happened on the past two Fridays, and the principal participants do enjoy drunkenness. These were my coworkers, so I attended, everyone quite aware that I would not touch a drop of alcohol.

Let me pause to say this: It is not a sin to drink, but it is a sin to get drunk. I don't know how alcohol will affect me, so I stay away from it. I don't know my limit, and I don't intend to find out, either.

Plus, as was aptly demonstrated at both parties, it's a lot cheaper to drink soda!

The first one was held at Applebee's. I didn't quite know what I was getting myself into. The world of coarse jokes that I can shut down on the clock was unabated in this non-professional venue. I stayed silent for the most part, taking only a couple of jabs at one guy when absolutely necessary, but mostly just sitting in shock and watching the baseball game. After a couple of hours there, the birthday girl wanted more alcohol, so they decided to go to a sports bar, and I declined to join them. One couple gave me a ride to the Park Place mall, and that was the end of that.

The second one was held at the birthday boy's house, where he lives with his fiancee and their children. (The kids were with their grandparents.) I had asked if I should bring my guitar, and he was glad to have it, and he had told me that there would be others. His "wife" is learning to play as well. It was "BYOB" (Bring Your Own Beer), so I brought mine all right--Root Beer. I drank all night.

So I got to jam out with some of his buddies, including Jared (also from work). Most of the invitees were from Cracker Barrel, but there were some neighbors and some former employees, too. I had my "Jesus for Jews" T-shirt on, and it got a couple of startled reactions, and one short-but-good conversation. I sang Pastor Dave Dodge's "When I Get to Heaven" and Steven Curtis Chapman's "Remembering You" and Thomas Mack's "Faithful" and Day of Fire's "Rain Song," along with LifeHouse's "You and Me."

I ended up leaving early so that I could pick up a shift for one of my fellow servers who didn't want the party to end. That got me a nice earthly reward. In fact, I made as much this past weekend as I normally do when picking up an extra shift for a whole week, so I am very thankful. I don't know when I'll be able again to be among my coworkers off the clock to speak to them of the truths of God, but I'm very thankful for the opportunities I have had lately. I did have a great talk with a one of the neighbors, who was insistent that the Bible was put together by the Roman church and therefore can't be trusted. I tried to reason with him, but to no avail. Please pray for Jaime. And the rest of the crew, too.

Thanks, and God bless.

Last Call at the Bar

2010-05-19T07:59:00.001-07:00

But first, a word from brother Ray Comfort:

The Bible says to contend for the faith (Jude 1:3)
You will be amazed what you can say to someone if your tone is in the Spirit of gentleness.
Study the New Testament and see just how confrontational Jesus was when He spoke to people about their salvation.
He wasn't afraid to call sin "Sin, and hell "Hell".
Imitate Him.
Never hesitate to use fear as a motivator for a sinner to flee to the Savior.
The world will frown on this and many in the Church may even discourage it.
But any fear a person may have now because of your words of warning will be nothing compared to the fear he will have if he falls into the hands of the living God.
The Lake of Fire should motivate us to cast aside our fears of rejection that come in the guise of not wanting to offend people.
There goes another minute.
Gone forever.
Go and share the Gospel while you still can.

Amen.

So I no longer have a time to share the Gospel at the Three Birds Tavern. My work schedule has changed drastically, which is actually for the better financially, which of course opens up other venues of ministry.

I wanted my last night to go well, but the Lord has been teaching me that His idea of success is not mine.

For instance, this past Wednesday, I knew I was scheduled to go to work at 5 PM, but something kept telling me to be there by 4. I got ready in time to get there by 4--except that my bicycle's front tire was flat, and it took me an hour to fix! The feeling to rush was God's way of keeping me from being too late (I was about 5 minutes late as opposed to an hour).

So last Thursday night, I went with the intention of getting there early enough to grab a decent slot, singing some good stuff really well, and maybe even preaching from the microphone. Well, none of that stuff happened.

I arrived about 8 PM, though I had hoped to get there by 6:30. I had to tell Joe, the coordinator, that I must leave by 10 in order to get to the front of the line. I had to follow an act that made me extremely nervous, because those young boys were just flat out talented, practiced, skilled, and good, and here I was a solo act with simple stuff. I lost my pick on the first song--in my guitar, no less--and had to start over. I didn't properly adjust the microphone, so I wasn't singing into it very well, so people could not hear what I was saying. I also had to adjust the microphone that was listening to my guitar, because it was improperly set. I had turned away a half-drunk lady at the beginning of my set, telling her that I don't usually practice with accompaniment, and it might throw me off (I was really worried that she wouldn't be able to keep up, and that would definitely have thrown this perfectionist off), so then I had to reverse field when someone who was far less intoxicated offered to bang the djembai for me (he was actually good) to help me get through my last song. Then I felt I got cut short right when I was getting good, because there were so many people waiting to play. I looked to Joe for one more, and he said, "No."

To top it all off, I either missed the last #4 to Williams Park to catch the #52 to get home, or it was just way late (I believe the latter), and ended up having to catch the #4 to Gateway Mall, planning to walk from there or hoping to catch a cab.

But during the time I was waiting for the kids to finish, I got to witness to Jeff, a man who grew up in a church-going home but now claims to be an atheist. I also got to pass tracts to about 150 people on the bus before I came, which excursion is what made me late. Afterwards, I was able to slip a couple of tracts to different people (the owners said that they don't allow flyer distribution of any kind there, which is expected, though they let me give them and their employees tracts the first night I was there; oh well) who were impressed by my play (here I was worried about those kids).

Even after all that tract passing, I still had enough to give to the people on the northbound #4 and there was a cab waiting right at the gas station across from where I got off the bus. The driver was actually leaving the convenience store to get in his cab right when I approached the vehicle. In addition, I have witnessed to most of the people who regularly catch the southbound #4 and the last #52 to Clearwater, so this was a new batch of people that I had not given any witness to, and now I had that opportunity.

The Lord's idea of success is not mine. My plans failed miserably, but He worked mightily. I thank Him, and I thank Him for you and your prayers.

--
Grace does not enable sin--it overpowers it. Mercy does not excuse sin--it forgives it. The Law does not make us sin--it merely points out that we have sinned so that we might flee to mercy and grace.

http://www.stepuptolife.info/

Have you ever visited http://www.team-hope.org? No? Well, now's a good time!

Wanna follow me all over the world on the web? Then go to http://witnessingwithjsb2.blogspot.com !

http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey

Bug Fever

2010-05-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

I have only seen so many bugs at one time once before--at the last VW for Life event, last year (I think it was in June).

This year, they were back at the Pier in St Pete, hippies and wannabes proudly displaying their vintage and older Volkswagon Beetles and Buses and more and reveling in the experience. Alcohol was widespread, as I guess could be expected. It looked like a lot of fun.

I only had an hour to spend there, because I had to catch the bus back home to get to work on time--which didn't happen--so I tried to make the most of it.

I had a few tracts with me, intending to engage most people verbally and to distribute the tracts solely on the bus rides, to and from. Well, as usual, the Lord had different plans, and I ended up handing out all my tracts before I ever saw a VW Bus. Nice.

So I walked around looking for my friend's Bus, because a few of us Christians were going to put a united effort into reaching the VW enthusiasts. But, as the Lord would have it, what looked like his bus was actually the bus of some clearly lost people. Awesome! I gave one of them the Good Person Test in front of everyone. They seemed pretty peeved after it, so I didn't go into the Gospel. (Yes, I know. I'm getting soft in my old age.) I did let them know where it is in the Bible that "whoever hates his brother is a murderer" (1 John 3:15) and why (because it's God's wrath against sin, not the harm against man, that is being taken into account).

I thanked them for their hospitality and shade (those VW Bus travelers have thought of everything!) and moved on to continue to search for my friend (Rick Orr). Well, it turns out that I had misunderstood the directions and that he was actually on the Pier, and I was not. Oh well, I ended up spending quite a bit of time talking to a couple of people who were clearly favorable to the Christian faith but had let their friendships pull them away. Our half-hour-long conversation greatly encouraged them, while the others in their group just ran away (almost literally).

Oh well.

I looked up and my phone alarm was sounding--but for the ten minute snooze! I had, rightly, set the alarm for 12:45 in order to get back to the PSTA buses on time, but this was the 12:55 reminder! I ended up being more than an hour late for work, but I did witness to people at the bus stop and on the bus on my way back. Ah, yes, redeeming the time.

It certainly wasn't pleasant being so late, and I'm sure it really cost me some money, but so did the Rays' baseball game being held at dinner time. Oh well, you have those nights. Sunday night was a good night, and this coming Sunday appears to hold even better potential (Mother's Day). I will say, I'm glad to be reaping the benefits of the early blitz when I started at Cracker Barrel:

One of my coworkers was asking me questions about going to church. Certainly a step in the right direction for someone who grew up singing in church choirs but clearly didn't ever decide to follow Jesus. So please be praying for her and her son (and her ex, who plans to be in Lost Vegas soon). Thanks for your prayers!

Post Church Fun

2010-04-27T05:05:00.000-07:00

I decided to ride the bus home Sunday after church (usually a friend gives me a ride) so that I could have more witnessing opportunities than normal (feeling a bit starved after running out of tracts in Jamaica). So I handed my last available tract (not last existing--I had more at home) to the bus driver as I boarded and proceeded to sit down.

Then the Lord told me to get up and move to the back, so that I could speak with a young man who was sitting back there. He was wearing a T-shirt that was advertising Subway's new breakfast menu, so I asked him if he worked for them. He does. So I asked him about their breakfast promotion, and he told me about it (not that I'm going to patronize them any time soon, but, hey, it was something that he was an expert about, so I gave him the stage).

Then I asked him if he had ever taken the Good Person Test. He hadn't, so I gave it to him. He failed, so I asked him about the consequences on Judgment Day. He really didn't want to focus on that, so I reasoned with him about its necessity, if God is good and just. Then I told him about God's mercy, the Hope that we have because of Jesus Christ, and the Power to overcome sin through His resurrection. I then encouraged him to read his Bible and bid him adieu, because I had to connect to another bus.

I thought I was going to have to initiate the conversation, but the Lord had other ideas. I had tried to give a Gospel tract to this man on the way to church, about three hours before, and he had rejected it. So I was surprised when he asked me if I go to church and what church is is. I told him where Living Hope meets for services and then asked him where he goes.

He doesn't go to a "church," per se (at least not by modern definition). He goes to different regular Bible studies. He said that he's fed up with churches who don't teach the truth (that's understandable), and one of the beefs he had is the existence of a literal, eternal Hell.

Actually, that's understandable, too. I forget who said that he'd love to rip the teaching from the pages of the Bible but dared not to (I think it was C.S. Lewis, or maybe Spurgeon), but I wholeheartedly agree with him. I don't like the idea of Hell, and I would much rather it did not exist, but, since I didn't make the world, or write the Book, I'm not going to take such liberties and try to edit the Word of God in order to make it more bearable for me to watch lost people die in their sins.

Besides, there's no good reason for anyone to go to Hell, since Jesus paid the fine for all. I tried to get to that point with him, but he wanted nothing to do with it. Oh well. Everyone else heard how unreasonable he wanted to be and how simple the Gospel is. May he and they join the rest of us in receiving eternal life. Thanks for praying.

Adventures in Jamaica

2010-04-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

So I went to Jamaica last week to visit the family that I began sheltering back in August. They finally made it to Jamaica the week before and had invited me to come see them. So I gave up one shift at work and spent Tuesday through Thursday night with them, traveling Friday morning to get back in time for work Friday afternoon (never had to tell anyone at work where I was, either, heh).

I made sure to bring Gospel tracts with me on the trip, but, as usual, not nearly enough. I had to ration my tracts every day just to have some on Thursday. People were just as receptive to tracts as I experience here in the States. However, the common language is a dialect of English called Patwah (I might be misspelling that), and, while it is possible to understand it, it is difficult to speak it back to them. Fortunately, most of them understand American English quite well.

I had several good conversations while waiting with my friends at the bank for more than an hour and a half (boy, business is done differently in Jamaica!). I was at first afraid that the security guard might stop me from handing out the Million Dollar Bills I had brought (leftover from St Patrick's Day; they are all gone, now), but then I realized that they really do business differently in Jamaica! Passing fliers, of whatever sort, is just part of life.

Just like driving like a maniac, cutting people off, being cut off, honking the horn, and being honked at. I am a "by-the-book" driver, so I would be dead driving in Jamaica. But it certainly was fun! Next time I go, I'm going to have to get a step ladder and preach in Spanishtown. There are always big crowds there, and often there are radios blaring the truth right in the middle of them (not like people stop and listen).

Although most people would probably think that Jamaica is a Christian nation, in truth, all they do is claim it. The religion class in school teaches about the gods and practices of religions around the world. Christ is not exalted. This reminded me of the Bahamas, where they teach you to be a good person, but don't tell you the Gospel or even the Ten Commandments. Not very Christ-like, I must say. He not only taught the Ten Commandments, He explained their spiritual nature, and then became the sacrifice that not only cleanses us from sin but also aids us in following the spiritual requirements of the Law (Matthew 5, Romans 6). So I'm definitely looking forward to re-engaging the Jamaican culture, whenever I get to return.

Please pray for the people I was able to speak to and to give tracts to. Please also pray for my neighbor Mike, whose alcohol-destroyed liver is giving out. Tomorrow is actually his birthday, and he's not happy about spending it in the hospital. He's not saved, either, so please pray for that, too.

God bless. Thank you.

Potential Changes

2010-04-19T14:53:00.001-07:00

This past Thursday, I forgot to take tracts with me and the Three Birds Tavern was having a concert, meaning no open mic.

So I decided that, bored, I would just play around with my guitar at Williams Park, where a lot of homeless people hang out in the heart of downtown St Pete. I saw Pisat, one of the kids from the Rock. He told me that the kids don't hang out there anymore. Unfortunately, though, he is still walking in his sins. Please continue to pray for all the kids, wherever they may be. (There's a lot of them. I used to try to remember all their names....Used to...)

After I spoke with him, I unpacked my guitar and started praising. I figure, the God who made us deserves to be praised in the open air of downtown St Pete!

After a couple of songs, somebody put a dollar on my guitar bag. I had set it on a bench, not on the ground, and I didn't have a cap down there, either, because I wasn't playing for money. Then some homeless people came over and wanted to hear me play and sing. Cool. They encouraged me to go over to Janus Landing and play, because people with more money frequent that area. I tried to insist that I wasn't playing for money, but they wouldn't have it. "I'm telling you, man, go over there!"

After disappointing them by justifying official marriage versus unofficial (Romans 13, sorry guys), I decided to walk over there and prayerfully check it out. I don't want to just make a buck with my excellent guitar and simple strum patterns. I want to impact this city with the Gospel.

I had noted in my pleas to the Lord that I was only reaching the lower income levels by riding the bus. I wanted a way to reach the middle class, too. (Upper levels of income probably will come in time, but, if I have run into them, they certainly haven't revealed themselves to me).

So I went home and constructed a simple tract dispensing box, that will simply say, "Take One Please" on the outside, and contain the life-giving Gospel on the inside. This way, whether I make money or not, those who pass by will get the opportunity to read a tract while my hands are busy. I thank the Lord for this cool idea.

This doesn't mean I'm done playing at Three Birds. Another one of my coworkers said something about coming to see me play. Plus, I still want to catch up with the atheists when they come back next month. If they arrive early enough, and the crowd is as it has been, I will ask to use the open mic as a forum to debate them for about 30-45 minutes, until the rest of the crowd comes. Then we'll go to music. I don't know if that plan will work, but it's something I wanted to submit to you all for prayer.

Thank you, again. God bless you all.

P.S. I might be able to play at Three Bird and at Janus Landing on the same night, but only by arriving early downtown and leaving Janus around 8 PM. I can still use another of my off days or nights to play, either at Janus or the Rock, now that it, too, is empty.

Second Effort

2010-04-09T06:36:00.001-07:00

So I went back to the Three Birds Tavern last night. But the adventure started before I got there.

I decided after picking up my paycheck at Cracker Barrel that, since I had nothing scheduled for the rest of the evening, I would catch a bus--any bus--to the end of the line and then go downtown--since I was going to pay for an all day pass anyway, I might as well get the most out of it--taking hundreds of Gospel tracts with me.

At the Park Place Mall bus terminal, I was giving tracts to all the passengers I could, but with my guitar on my back. One of the waiting passengers asked me to play a song, and I wasn't planning to (in fact, I think I rejected a similar request last week), but I did anyway, playing "All Bow Down," by Chris Tomlin. Then I continued to give out tracts.

Well, some lady took a tract and put a ten-dollar bill in my hand at the same time.

I was shocked. I am pinching my pennies, but not because of dire straits, just trying to be wise and trying to open new opportunities for ministry. Well, this certainly helped! I had dinner money!

I didn't pass out as many tracts as I brought (about 450-500), because the buses just weren't as full as I expected them to be. I ended up with a bunch to pass out to the patrons at the Tavern when I got there.

Once again, no one was there for the 8 PM start, but this time Joe, the coordinator, suggested that we start the night at 9PM instead, him first, then me. So I went outside, bought dinner, and passed out some more tracts (whoever thought of the million dollar bill is a genius!!) to the unsuspecting and delighted patrons and got to watch the Rays playing the Orioles (I still love baseball).

One of the patrons came to the bar, where I was sitting, and started talking about the tract, and he suggested that I put one on the car of the atheist parked beside him. Hmm... Well, I wasn't driving, but he said that it was the one with all the bumper stickers on the back. Nice. Snipers love spotters. Then he told the bartender that he was buying me a drink! Sweet! "Sierra Mist, please."

I started at 9:15, when a reasonable crowd had gathered. I played four songs, two that I played last week, and two more that I didn't ("Unchanging" and "All Bow Down," by Chris Tomlin; "Psalm 17" and "When I get to Heaven," by Dave Dodge, respectively; I'm going to try to mix some more in as I continue to play there). I started late enough that my coworker Jared, who had told me about the night, was able to hear part of the second song and both the last two songs. His girlfriend liked the tune (she was nodding her head to the beat), and I was able to tract both of them at the end of the night.

My food didn't arrive until I was in the middle of my set (I forgot that bars aren't fast food), but that gave me the opportunity to listen to others while I ate. Boy, the ungodly have nothing to play! Joe, the guy who played before me, was playing some fun but empty tunes. Leo, the guy who played after me, wasn't even playing tunes! He just had some downwrong awful lyrics that he used the guitar as an excuse to express. He strummed a little bit, but the music was more about getting back at women (and God) than anything else. Wow, what a difference receiving the forgiveness of Jesus Christ makes! I couldn't give him a million dollars while he was plucking away, but I did give one to his friends.

When I was tracting the rest of the patrons on my way out the door, I found a group of atheists meeting on the other side! They quickly stopped me from getting to the rest of the group (there were about 15, I handed out four tracts) and tried to get me to fold on my faith on the spot. Ha! They asked their usual bevy of "stump-the-Christian" questions, not realizing that this Christian got stumped early on--and that Jesus told him not to let it happen again! "Know My Word" was the order, and I've been studying ever since.

I told them I had to cut them short, because I have a bus to catch, but they told me that they meet there every month about this time. "So come on back!" Oh, I'll be there. Will they?

Thanks for your prayers!

Not So Hard

2010-04-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

I really was worried about the reception I would get at the Three Birds Tavern when I attended their "Open Mic" night last night. It showed in my play and singing for the first three songs. Then, the guy who was handling the sound told me to move the microphone, because he couldn't really hear me sing.

Ah, just what I needed. I belted out "All Bow Down" by Chris Tomlin to a pleased audience of about eight. I was a bit surprised that Christian praise and worship would be so well received, but I decided to take advantage of it instead of worrying about it and hand out the Million Dollar Bills that I had brought for that purpose.

Afterwards, a man asked me if the four songs I played were originals. No, but then he explained why everyone was so genuinely thankful: He had never heard them before because he doesn't really go to church or listen to Christian music (duh, this is a bar), so it was fresh to him, and to everyone else who was there. Nice.

Well, if I'm not working next Thursday, I might return. I'm hoping for a larger crowd, but mostly I'm hoping to bring more tracts: I was only able to witness to one half of the restaurant because I was trying to save tracts for the bus ride home. I ended up running out anyway, well before I even got to the bus, but I passed up many opportunities in between and even on the way there. It's not like I don't have a bunch of silly-looking green bills at home, so I had no excuse. I'll try to overdo it next time, and we'll see how it goes. I gave out at least one hundred with about fifty opportunities knowingly passed up (and people wonder why I couldn't afford my tract habit before).

Thanks for praying. God bless.

Quick Hit

2010-03-25T09:10:00.001-07:00

So I was going to cross the street this morning, and there was an obvious snow-bird standing at the cross walk, waiting for our light. I walked up to him and greeted him, and he said something along the lines of how nice it was to have the warm weather return to Florida.

I had seen him look at my Jesus T-shirt, so I knew he was trying to avoid the subject. Too bad.

"Well, I think that was God's way of reminding us that Heaven isn't here!" I laughed and proceeded to cross the street.

As we approached the other side, he caught up with me and said that he didn't want Heaven if there is no beer there. I replied, "The pleasures that God has prepared for us in Heaven are far greater than the ones that we can get from beer. That's why you should give it (beer) up for Jesus!"

He really couldn't argue with that, and went on his way. Please pray for him. Thanks, and may God bless you.

Bored: Nothing Better to Do

2010-03-24T08:21:00.001-07:00

I joined a home fellowship recently, and last night was my first night attending. I had nothing else to do around 3:30, so I just went over to the Park Place mall, hopped on the first bus, hoping to take it to the end of the line, return to the mall, and then take #75 to Tyrone Mall and then walk from there. Well, the Lord has better plans than I do.

I ended up on #52, which, by the time it got to Clearwater, did not leave me enough time to ride it back to Park Place and pick up #75. Fortunately, #18 goes through Tyrone Mall on its way to downtown St. Pete. So, after being told by the security guard at the Park Street Terminal that I cannot hand out tracts there (I expected him to say that once I saw him approaching me), and showing all the caricatures to a couple who was excited about the million dollar bills I had given them (Living Waters has a couple of sets featuring celebrity caricatures), I hopped on #18 and gave tracts to everyone who boarded who would take them.

I had already given one to the bus driver, and he was about to throw his out when a passenger said that she wanted his. I told her she should trade with him, and she did. The only way I knew that he was about to throw his out was that he handed it to her rolled tightly like a cigarette. Heh, even she commented about that.

Later, at the Veterans Hospital on layover, he asked to see another one, saying that his had flown out the window (liar). I gave him another one, and, as he looked at it, he asked if I had a Bible with me. Not having a pocket-size and wearing jeans that don't have much pocket space, I had only supplied myself with tracts. But the lady who was on board with us had a Bible--a real Bible, a really beloved, believed Bible, one of those tattered things that you can tell gets read and read and read (yes, I know some people can fake it, but you don't carry something that heavy in your purse to and from work just to fake it).

So he showed me a verse in Ecclesiastes 9: "For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten." (verse 5). Well, that was my second clue. The third was that he said, after reading the verse to me, that God had created Adam and Eve to rule over the earth, not Heaven, and he challenged me to "find me a verse in that Bible that says I'm going to Heaven." I wanted to say, "There isn't one, because you're not, you cult member!" but the Lord of love restrained me.

I didn't bother to look for the verse. I knew about Revelation 21-22, how it describes a place that far exceeds the creation that God called very good at the Beginning. I also knew that this guy's problem isn't that he believes in an earthly paradise, but that he studies the Bible under the tutelage of men who don't believe what it actually says. So I made it my point to challenge him during the layover at Tyrone to abide by the plain teaching of Scripture and not let anyone, no matter how educated or respected tell him any different. I don't think he appreciated that message, but it is the truth.

To be sure, there are some truths that aren't readily evident unless you know other Scriptures, too, but letting Scripture explain Scripture is a far superior method of understanding the Bible than letting men teach you. Yes, others can have insights that God hasn't shown to us yet, but we will always be able to check them independently of them, and none of those teachers has a perfect knowledge that will forever go uncorrected. And that's the problem for not only the obvious cults, but also the people who only ever believe what they hear from the pulpit yet disregard the plain wording of Scripture. I'll stop ranting right here.

Anyway, the study and the fellowship was great (so was dinner) at the Ruzinok's. We reviewed 1 Peter 4:12-19, which Ron Bouvier taught at Living Hope this past Sunday. I know I've faced some trials I didn't know how to work around, but nothing that could truly be called "fiery," and, in every case, God has always worked things out as time has passed. So I have yet to experience the fullness of what Peter was talking about in these verses, so we'll see what the future holds.

Afterwards, I was back at Tyrone Mall. I was going to catch the 75, but it had stopped running. I looked for other bus routes, and #18 was the only one available. I was going to catch it north to Seminole Mall and let #74 take me home, but the Lord advised me to ask the bus driver about it, and he confirmed that #74 would not be there when I got there, so I got off, went to the restroom at Chick-Fil-A, handed a young lady and either her mom or grandmother (sorry, couldn't tell) a tract, then returned to the bus shelters on the southside of Tyrone Mall to wait for the southbound #18. Once on board, I ran out of tracts. One girl dropped hers in her seat, so I recycled it to the young man who had boarded after us. He asked if he could keep it, and I assured him he could: "I'm not an Indian giver!"

Finally, at Grand Central Station, I boarded #19 northbound, which runs right by my house. I had no tracts, but I was able to strike up a conversation with a server from Denny's. She had a cross on her neck and claimed that Jesus was precious to her. I asked her if Jesus is important for everyone, and she said yes, so I asked her why.

She didn't want to talk about Hell, so I reminded her that Jesus threatened those who do not trust in Him with Hell. She was a bit uncomfortable with that, so I asked when the last time was she had read her Bible. She admitted that it has been a while. I said, "The best information in the world does you no good if you don't read it." She concurred.

Please pray for her and the many others I was able to pass a tract to that day, as well as those who rejected it. God bless.

The Green Day

2010-03-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

Well, the Lord guided me to more bus routes, gave me more time (by having me iron my clothes the night before), and gave me some good conversations along the way. I had bought about 1400 tracts, and I think I have about 900 left. Unfortunately about 45 of them blew away between two different occasions when I didn't secure them properly, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they were wasted.

I first caught #52 to Clearwater. I didn't know the bus driver was a Christian, but she called me back to the bus at the end of the line and wanted to make sure that I had given tracts to the men who had disembarked at the jail. Yes, I had gotten them when I first boarded, because I always give to everyone already aboard, and then sit near the front to give to the newcomers. (Ironically, there is a high school right across the street from the jail. *sigh* No further comment.) She was greatly encouraged, and I showed her the website so she could get some for herself.

At the Park Street Terminal (which is in downtown Clearwater), I tracted everyone I could, including a lady who tried to return the ones I had given to her and her husband, saying, "Hey, we're Christians: pass this on to someone else." I looked at her funny: "You pass it on! I'm sure you know somebody I don't!" A tract is never "wasted" just because the person who gets it is already saved.

I then took #61 to the Indian Rocks Shopping Center, which is also the terminus for #74, which runs right by my trailer park. I thought that I would pick up #74 after lunch and then either go home or catch #19. Well, I ended up on #66 instead, and it was clearly a divine appointment, though that was not immediately apparent.

It was only after I had been on the bus for about an hour, and passed up several opportunities in Clearwater to just get off the bus and tract the "blarney" events that were going on, that a young man boarded the bus, took the tract, read it, and then quietly thanked me for it. So quietly, in fact, that I had to ask him twice what he said!

Then, watching the clock, because I had to be at work by 4, I got off in Tarpon Springs at the point at which I could catch #19 southbound, which isn't the end of the line for #66, which was where I had originally planned to be. During the ride south, among the other passengers, two high school girls got on and sat nearby. As I continued to tract those who entered, some of whom rejected, the more loquacious one asked, "Do most people take them?"

"Yes. I think I've had about 10 people not want it, and I've handed out about 200 so far."

"Ooh! That's really good!" I don't know when or why this came up, but she said, "My sister hands out the smiley-faced ones...the ones that say, 'Jesus loves you,' on the front."

"What church do you go to?" I wasn't sure if there was a divide in the family, or if this was just the rebellious one talking to me.

"She goes to...what's the name of it?" she asked her friend. "Crossroads, over on Curlew." Apparently, it's a Baptist church, and, apparently, she's the only one who goes. Yep, a divided family. "She's getting baptized [this weekend]."

"Hmm...that's cool..." I hesitated, but then I decided to go for it: "You know, in the early days of Christianity, if you got baptized, you lost everything. You could lose your family, your job, and sometimes even your life. If you were a Roman citizen...,basically, you were telling Caesar that you would no longer bow to Caesar, you would bow to Jesus, and, if Caesar didn't disagree with Jesus you would obey Caesar, but, as soon as Caesar disagreed with Jesus, you were going to obey Jesus and not Caesar, and Caesar didn't like that idea very much."

"Wow... I bet he didn't. I heard that he wasn't a very nice guy."

"None of the guys who held that position were. And if you were not a Roman citizen, and you were annoying enough, you got crucified."

"REally?"

"Yep, that's what happened to Peter." Now, why would I tell all this frightening history to this impressionable young teenager? Because I want to impress on her the seriousness of baptism. Believer's baptism is a matter of much debate in some circles, but the tradition from which it arose draws the lines very clearly. You did not get baptized until you had decided that Jesus was worth losing everything else in life. In this country, we aren't required by society to make that declaration, yet, and the lack of pressure has created a lack of clarity about the decision to follow Christ. Thus many people claim to follow Jesus but their lives have no fruit, because the Jesus they follow doesn't hate the world and its evil system (see 1 John 2:15-17). Therefore, many people in the church are still enemies of God, because they are such good friends with the world (James 4:4). Ray Comfort covers this topic more extensively in his audio CD "Hell's Best Kept Secret." You can listen to this for free at

The Lucky Bill

2010-03-16T12:48:00.001-07:00

Custom Tract Source made a million dollar bill designed for St Patrick's Day. I bought quite a few of them (might not get to use them all) in preparation for tomorrow, thinking that I would have plenty of opportunities to hand them out. Well, not as many as I had planned.

But today, after riding the #19 bus to the end of the line and back and only giving out about 100 (I know, big numbers for some, but, on a bus ride that long, much less than I had expected), I came to Panera, hoping to look up some events for tomorrow before I go to work. As I arrived, I handed out the tracts to those sitting outdoors (I rarely hand out tracts indoors--more businesses frown on that than on the outside), and a lady sitting inside by the window reacted. So I made sure when I got inside that I gave her one, too.

She was delighted, and then she started reading it.

Well, I always intend to hand it to someone who doesn't yet trust in Jesus for their salvation, and this lady sure didn't. When I told her that she would have to keep all the rest of the Ten Commandments perfectly in order to qualify for Heaven on her own merits, she finally admitted that she has at least told some lies in her life--"Fibs count as lies, right?" Um, yeah.

But she didn't like the Bible. I gently explained that the Bible says that "it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the Judgment," and therefore there is no reincarnation. She said that she believes that the Bible was written by men who were, among other things, largely uneducated. I did not contest that with her (I mean, obviously, they could read and write, and that's about all that's required for writing a book), but I did say that it does not matter how uneducated I am if God is telling me what to write down. "But how do you know it's God? ... All the religions of the world have men [adding] their own ideas!" True enough.

She also said that if the truth would cost her her own life, she would lie, because she is not willing to be a martyr. Understandable, but I did tell her that Jesus said that if we are not willing to die for Him, then He will not stand up for us on Judgment Day. She immediately said that she believed in a far kinder Jesus. Well, I reminded her of the saying, "In the beginning, God made man in His own image, and man has been returning the favor ever since." The lady who was with her smiled. I don't know if she is already a Christian or was just enjoying the exchange.

I forget how I ended the conversation, but I wasn't mean. Maybe someday she'll actually take the time to read the Bible. Thanks for praying.

Ruffling Feathers

2010-03-03T06:49:00.000-08:00

Since participating in evangelism boot camps, I have often struggled with the fact that I can't give a Gospel tract to everyone I see. It's God's way of reminding me that salvation of the world is His task, not mine, and that I am only a participant in His work.

But lately, I have not been as avid a participant as I would like to be. I have tracts, I have time, I just haven't handed them out.

Yesterday, I decided to repent, and to carry tracts with me on my multiple trips to the Home Depot to fix my toilet and my kitchen sink. I gave tracts to every employee I engaged, I gave tracts to every patron who would take one, and I gave tracts to people along the way. As the day warmed up, I took off my jacket, revealing my "Not Just Jews for Jesus" T-shirt that I had gotten in New York back in 2006 when I served with Jews for Jesus for their expanded summer witnessing campaign. And, boy, the reaction I got from that!

At first, it was just four guys sitting in Chipoltle eating lunch. I saw them jump and stare, but I had an errand to run, and I figured I'd get another shot at them.

Well, I did:

As they were driving by, the front passenger rolled down his window and asked,

"Hey, are you Jewish?" [If you haven't seen the shirt, the "Not Just" part is ... shall we say... a bit more subtle than the rest.]

"No," with a smile.

"Then what the ---- are you wearing that shirt for?"

"It says, 'Not Just Jews for Jesus'!"

"You ---- ----!"

"God bless you!"

"God ---- you!"

"He won't!"

It made the whole day worthwhile! "Blessed are you when men shall revile you...for My Name's sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad!"

It even topped the "Hey, this is a Christian thing, with Scriptures on it!" angry reaction that I heard after walking away from a guy who had asked for a second million dollar bill before he read it.

And it was even better than the guy who acted like I was a robber and told me to back away as if he had a gun. (What if he did? Well, he should have used it. =P Anyway, he looked like a complete jerk acting like that toward the guy who's giving away free million dollar bills that everyone else seemed to want.)

So, four trips to Home Depot, and a fully repaired kitchen sink and toilet, and about 100 tracts later, I was ready for work. It was already a good day.

On the Clock

2010-02-18T07:05:00.000-08:00

Our general manager called a server meeting for yesterday, and, during the meeting, his boss spoke well of how we befriend our guests at Cracker Barrel. Well, I'm of Mark Cahill's mindset:

"If they're not your friends for eternity, they are not your friends at all."

So, when a guest of mine made a dirty joke and then rejoiced in the fact that he constantly makes women blush, I asked him, "Do you think Jesus would be laughing?"

He said, "Well,...yeah!"

"Yeah, right before He had you stoned! Jesus said, 'Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has committed adultery already with her in his heart.'"

From then on the man tried to justify himself whenever I returned to the table, telling me how his sin wasn't all that bad, how he did all these good deeds, how he was better than a whole lot of other people. I was able to give him a biblical response to each, that God is the ultimate Judge of how bad sin is, God won't look at our good deeds, because we are criminals and no judge in his right mind considers the good deeds when assessing whether the man before him is innocent or guilty, and God isn't going to judge us by our standards or by comparisons. I left him with no other option but to flee from his sin to the Savior that God is in Jesus Christ.

Alas, he wasn't too eager to hear it. I'm not worried about getting reported, because he was more concerned with getting me to think positively of him than he was about being offended by anything I had to say. And, in any case, his conscience agreed with me, so he really didn't have an argument.

That was the beginning of a very blessed day at work, where I not only stood up for Jesus, but I also made a lot of money. Nice to be able to pay bills on time again. Thanks for your prayers.

Who You Lookin' At?

2010-01-19T06:24:00.001-08:00

Every time I turned my head that direction, there she was looking at me. Now, people have told me for years that I'm that good looking, but I've never paid them that much attention. And I'm not a flirt, either, so this was new to me.

I needed to leave Panera Bread anyway, so I packed up my stuff, said goodbye to the friend at the next table, and walked straight up to her and extended my hand.

"Hi, I'm Joshua."

With a smile, she shook my hand. "I'm Carly."

"Are you a student?" (I saw the chemistry textbook on the table.)

"Yes."

"What are you studying?"

"Dentistry...in Tampa."

"USF?"

"Yes."

"Cool. I have friends that go to USF. Have you ever taken the Good Person Test?"

Now, let me pause to say that I'm quite sure that many of the times that young ladies have taken the test, they have done so because they thought I was flirting with them. I'm only drawing this conclusion by their reactions. I don't think Carly was any exception. More on that later.

After I assured her that I was just as guilty as she just proved to be, I asked her what she thought God would do with guilty people on Judgment Day. She said, "I don't know."

Now, a Christian would either a) assure me they had nothing to worry about or b) acknowledge the Justice of God and then assure me they had nothing to worry about. She did neither. So I told her about God's Justice (Hell). Then I told her about God's love (Jesus). Then I told her about our part (repentance and faith). Then I told her why I believe the Bible (I think something she said prompted it, but I don't remember) in spite of so many people who claim to follow God but are not perfect (because the Bible stands on its own).

I ended our conversation by saying that I had come over to her simply to share that truth with her. She was grateful. "I like meeting people like you. You're really nice." Well, I hope the Gospel sticks in her mind, not just my pretty face. Pray for Carly, please. Thanks.

William Defy

2010-01-18T08:33:00.000-08:00

So I caught up with some friends at the Egg Platter on Friday night. We were enjoying ourselves in conversation when someone jumped in. I felt led to go over to his table so we could continue to talk, because I just love it when the fish jump into the boat.

William has had a crazy life. Our conversation revealed past drug abuse, incredible musical talent, wayward religious studies, and now a desire to finally set his life in order. However, he considers himself to be a good person, he doesn't think that Jesus is the only way, and he's pretty sure he has a relationship with Jesus--a personal relationship, he assured me.

Well, tried to, anyway. After what he had already said, I set out to shake that foundation. Matthew 7:21-23 records that Jesus said that many people who think they have a personal relationship with Him are badly mistaken. They call Him, not just "Lord," but "Lord, Lord," implying some sort of endearment. I told William that I was highly concerned that he might be one of them.

"Well, how do I make sure that I'm not?"

I went and got Tom T's Bible, because I didn't have mine (gonna need to invest in a truly pocket-sized Bible, but I'll likely end up giving it away). During that time, I believe that the demons started working on William's mind. He wasn't anywhere near as attentive after the delay as when he had first asked the question. Still, I showed him John 14:21:

"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." Then I told him, "You can't keep His commandments, unless you know what they are." Then I held up the Bible, "This is the only way you are going to know."

William had wanted a smoke break, so we gave him one (Vero had joined me and had actually found a reference to Matthew 7:21-23 in one of his college text books right when I was speaking to him about the passage--talk about God-incidence!), and I walked away sad, because I don't think he was really interested. He did say that he appreciated us taking the time to talk with him and that he could tell that our genuine care for his soul was our motivation for talking to him. I know that people walked away from Jesus, but I can only hope that those people changed their minds. I pray that William does, too.

Not Helpless

2010-01-11T08:12:00.000-08:00

I've seen him often in Panera Bread. He usually sits by himself, drinking coffee, not doing much else, not even speaking to many people. This time I saw him outside Panera as I came in. I was wondering why the Lord had me go to the early service at church and just leave. Then I found out that he was waiting for the bus and, when I sat down with him, I only had fifteen minutes.

During those fifteen minutes, Tony and I talked about his life, his past, his present, and his eternal future. Actually, he wasn't too keen to talk about the latter. He did say that he has read the Bible six times--and he was using the KJV and a dictionary. But, for some reason, he isn't following Christ. Either I didn't get the time to find out why, or he didn't want to say.

So how do the homeless survive in the record cold temperatures here in Florida? Churches open their doors to them--but they don't take the opportunity to preach to them. "You would think they would," he said. The churches that do preach to the homeless won't come out in the cold to do it. Few will actually go to Tent City, and most churches that have an outreach to the homeless only preach inside a shelter, especially this time of year.

I suppose that's prudent, for the health of those who are going, but it does burden me to do more.

Scott Rodriguez of Calvary Chapel St Pete has been leading an evangelistic outreach in downtown Clearwater on Monday nights for the past several months (I think it's about six, by now). Anyone who lives up that way should shoot him an email (scottrodriguez@calvarychapel.com) if you'd like to be a part of that.

I didn't get very far with Tony, but I don't feel a heavy burden about that, in part because I did what I could, and in part because he's already read the Bible several times and even taken the time to get a dictionary to understand what was being said. But I am praying for him. I do pray that he begins to follow the Lord shortly.

Because eternity is a long time to be dead in your sins.

The Waiting Game

2009-12-31T08:02:00.001-08:00

I had to run a late night errand at Wal-Mart after work on Wednesday. I picked the “Speedy Checkout” line, with the theory that , with everyone who enters the line being limited to 20 items or less, I should be out the door...well, let's just say speedily.

I should have checked my recent history, because God doesn't listen to my plans. He laughs at them.

As I waited (and waited, and waited) I decided to strike up a conversation with the guy behind me. It occurred to me that God was probably holding up the line so I could talk to him. I had chickened out at first, not knowing what the opening line should be. I had thought to start with a comment about his girlfriend (whom he had just kissed after telling her where an item was she couldn't find), but I decided not to because it would just be too awkward. Then I got a bright idea: comment about the long wait in the "speedy" line! Duh!

It worked. (God is so clever.) I gave him the Good Person Test, in the spirit of “might as well, 'cuz we ain't goin' nowhere,” and he took it, failed it, couldn't find a solution for Judgment Day, and let me tell him the Good News. He was taking it all in very carefully, very thoughtfully.

Then his girlfriend came back from not picking up whatever it was she went to find. I gave her the test, too. She thought she had a solution for Judgment Day (“Stop hating people?”), but I pointed out to her (as I had pointed out to him) that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of it on the Day of Judgment. “So, even if you could be perfect from this day forward, you still have all the things that you just admitted to me to answer for on Judgment Day.”

“I guess it's a good thing I go to confession.” Now right here is where I used to trip up. I would argue with people about whether or not this Catholic rite is even valid. But this time God gave me a better idea.

“Well, why would God forgive you?”

“Um, because you have to be sorry for your sins.”

“It's true you should be sorry. But, even if you are sorry, why would God forgive you?”

“Because He's a merciful God.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because He said so.”

“How did He prove that?”

“You don't have to prove it, you just take it by faith.”

“No, but God did something to prove that He's a forgiving God.”

“Oh, He sent Jesus to die for our sins.”

“That's the answer I was looking for!”

“Yeah, I took CCD!” (I'm assuming that means something to Catholics, but I have no clue what it stands for.)

“Spoken like a true Catholic,” her boyfriend commented.

“Jesus also said something else: 'Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.' [I know, I butchered the KJV of Luke 13:3, but the meaning is the same, so who cares?] If we love our sins unto death, we will receive eternal damnation. If we turn away from our sins, God will give us eternal life.”

“Definitely something to think about tonight.”

I paid for my item (yeah, one item) and bid them good night. I guess my hatred for Wal-Mart will have to end at some point. Thanks for praying for Seth and his girlfriend (I didn't get her name).

Strictly Speaking

2009-12-29T04:14:00.000-08:00

God is strict. Very strict. He even gave us consciences to remind us of how strict He is. Jesus said, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof on the Day of Judgment” (Matthew 12:36). That's a statement of strictness, not leniency.

And yet, God is a God of mercy. God doesn't punish us according to our sins. If He did, none of us would live past five years old (or two).

It is important to distinguish between strictness and legalism: Strictness makes us flee to the Cross for mercy, while legalism makes us think we don't need the Cross. Strictness helps us to understand how all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), whereas legalism denies that we are justified by grace through faith, insisting that we can make ourselves righteous before God just be doing enough good to get Him to ignore our sins. The Gospel is that Jesus lived the strict life that we could not so that God could justify the ungodly. Legalism calls us to ignore the goodness of God in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, to establish our own righteousness. Strictness can save us from Hell (“Wherefore, the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ” [Galatians 3:24]), but legalism will thoroughly condemn us. Legalism actually deceives us through its leniency towards the sins it chooses to ignore by amplifying the sins it prefers we overcome.

I'm strict about my job: I do my side-work the way the sheet tells me to do it. I roll only clean silverware. I sweep around my tables until I can no longer sweep up trash—I don't just run a broom over it and say, “It's good.” I pre-bus, wipe, and setup my tables before asking someone to check them so I can leave. All of this is being strict.

It's good to be strict. I've earned the respect of the most ardent atheist on my team by being so strict. He has complimented me several times about my work ethic, including last night. It gives credence to the words that I have spoken about Christ. Sure, he already respected me for having a couple of years on him (only two, but I'll take it). Sure, he respects me because I am articulate about subjects that most people don't touch.

But I also have said many things that he didn't like to hear. I openly disapproved of his life choices, such as getting drunk, abandoning his girlfriend to care for their child alone (he would pay child support, but that's it), cursing (forbidden on the job). He was angry with me about that. I told him he needed Jesus and that he needed to repent. He didn't want to hear it. But I was being strict then, too.

But “Tim” brought up the folly of wasting his money on beer and cigarettes last time the subject came up. He also changed his mind and is staying with his girlfriend (next step should be marriage, but I didn't push, because salvation will cause that, and, anyway, his girlfriend needs to get saved, too). Tim also has severely toned down his cursing.

It is interesting how, at Cracker Barrel, being strict with others is seen as an act of mercy: someone got fired for cursing shortly after I started, so people started correcting each other's language. The young ladies I work with—wild as they may be outside work—thank me when I remind them to “fix that button” (our collared shirts can only be opened so far; would to God that churches would have that standard! *prays*). The managers told us to warn each other if we caught someone eating food they hadn't paid for-- “If you see a friend [doing that], you'd better tell them before we do!” Wish that was the attitude of churches, too.

Yes, walk the walk. But also talk the talk. I may not be the most popular guy to hang out with at Cracker Barrel, but my witness for Christ is respected. Because I am strict. Not legalistic. Strict. There is a difference. And it is paying off.

Fwd: Merry Christmas my friends ~

2009-12-26T12:21:00.000-08:00

One of my friends sent this to me. I send it now to you. God bless!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Hatch

My Christmas Card to You....
On a recent episode of a children's Christian radio program, the following Christmas story was told about a family who's Christmas tree caught fire.

Early Christmas morning the family returned to their home to survey the damage. Their entire living room had been destroyed. The tree was gone, as were all of the presents and the ornaments they had collected over the years. Rummaging through the charred remains, one daughter sobbed over the beautiful robe she had gotten her mother that had been destroyed. The family tearfully questioned why God had allowed this to happen at Christmas. Then Timmy, the youngest son noticed the Nativity scene. "the Nativity is ruined too" he cried. "Look, the animals and the wise men are melted and ruined. All we have left is the Baby Jesus" he angrily exclaimed. The words he spoke abruptly halted the family. They were the truest words ever heard. "All we have left is Jesus". Suddenly the family realized where their focus was, and where it should be.
This program left me to ponder my own focus. Hustling and bustling through the month of December, listening to people filling their spare time with personal "things" to accomplish such as shopping, writing cards, answering emails, wrapping gifts, Sunday church activities, and catching all of the yearly Christmas TV shows & movies makes directing focus difficult. So much to do, so little time….
At the end of the show, the family spent the day sharing their Christmas "gifts" – telling each other what gifts they appreciated in each other that Christ had given them, such as the gift of encouragement, leadership, faithfulness, generosity and love.
My beloved friend, these are the gifts Christ has given you that I treasure and appreciate in you. I pray that this Christmas, your greatest gift will be found in the joy and peace Christ offers to all of us, and may you have many opportunities to share His love throughout the New Year.
Wishing you a most blessed Christmas, and may you enjoy health & happiness in the New Year.
Merry Christmas!
Hatch

--
http://www.stepuptolife.info/

Have you ever visited http://www.team-hope.org? No? Well, now's a good time!

Wanna follow me all over the world on the web? Then go to http://witnessingwithjsb2.blogspot.com !

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Cold, Wet, N Happy

2009-12-21T09:05:00.001-08:00

It was raining melting snow when I arrived at the parking lot of the Shoppes at Park Place (the mall by my house). I was praying for it to stop, and it did when I persevered to the sidewalk by Target.

However, it wasn't over.

I got rained on for most of the night and seriously considered just going home several times within the first twenty minutes. I didn't want to get sick and there is just so much water a man can take in the cool with no one to hand tracts to.

Well, there were a few, but they had already received them or were walking a different path than I could access. I started on one side of the movie theater, and then when over to the west side, and was walking to go home past the east side, in front of Famous Brand Shoes, when I saw a small group of people and a pause in the action from above. Might as well get them, I thought.

It went well after that. All 150 tracts found hands, I picked up a $10 bill (that helps considering the bills I have coming with little work). I walked up to a lady who was taking shelter from the intermittent drizzle (wish there were more "inters" but, oh well) and said, "I've got one more, and I'm giving it to you." She smiled and thanked me.

It was saddening watching all the very young people out there, the girls scantily-clad in weather that can make any one sick, the boys not so poorly dressed but just as unprepared and up to not much good. It reminded me that Satan really does have a hold on this world, and that's why we witness--to set the captives free.

Thanks for your prayers. God bless you.

The Week That Was

2009-11-27T10:08:00.000-08:00

I have had no time this week to email. I wanted to be able to wish you all a Blessed Thanksgiving, but Panera was closed and I didn't really have time to use the computer before going to work anyway.

Yes, I worked Thanksgiving Day at Cracker Barrel. The only day that Cracker Barrel closes is Christmas. I worked more than 11 hours, and made a lot of money, and wore my feet out. But I thank God for it, because this week I worked three more days than I expected, and now all my bills will get paid on time.

Also, I have been able to engage my coworkers in several spiritual conversations during down time, and it has been awesome. Some of them are opening up to me, but, for me, it simply helped me to see the wall that Satan has built around their hearts. Please keep praying for my coworkers, including the one I already gave a Bible to (that was Jodie, back in October).

Thank you for your prayers about last Friday night. I was able to distribute about 200 tracts to the movie-goers/shoppers at Park Place mall. I went back Saturday night with 100 more and wasn't there for more than 40 minutes. I did see Sam (from the Rock). He thought he could just sneak up to me from right in front of me by turning his head until he got within two feet of me, but I had seen his face before he saw mine, so =). I did walk away from him while he was speaking filth, because it would have looked like I was endorsing his evil words. I was already done, anyway.

As I walked away, he called out, "I love you, Josh!" I replied, "Jesus loves you, too, Sam! Repent!"

Wow. Satan really is the god of this world, and he really has blinded the minds of those who do not believe lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ should shine unto them. Will you please continue to pray for these people?

What about the people in your life--can I pray for them? I figure, if every one prays for everyone else, everyone will be covered.

I'm going to continue working with the movie-going crowd there. The police don't bother me at all. Once I was inside the movie theater witnessing to people instead of watching a movie (I had walked out because of the evil in the movie I was there to see), and the police did not bother me at all until it was about time to leave anyway. Also, this past Friday night, an officer on horseback kept telling youths not to loiter, but she did not bother me at all, and I was not moving from my spot on the sidewalk. I guess Pinellas Park PD appreciates the power of the Gospel (praise the Lord!)

I did buy enough tracts to handle business tonight, tomorrow, and even Sunday, if I have some left. We'll see how long I can continue. I was going to attack Black Friday, but my feet can't handle that right now. I know that many of my friends around the country did take the opportunity of a captive audience to preach the Gospel loud and clear, and I am praying for fruit from those endeavors.

Thanks for praying. God bless you all.

Undercover

2009-10-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

I've been bummed about not being able to go out with Team Hope lately, because of my work schedule. So I switched shifts with the other Christian server (Zack) in hopes that I would be able to go this past Friday. Well, as it turned out, I was so tired after being run so hard by the Friday lunch crowd, I was unable to do anything but rest--a first for me, because I've only missed Team Hope one other time when I wasn't at another spiritually-minded event.

But the Lord brought Team Hope to me during my shift. Now I know that, if a customer gets offended by my words, I could get fired. So, while I endeavor to shine the Light of the World, I am making sure that I do my job well so that the customer sees the connection between the great service they received and Jesus Christ. It's the only way to make sure I don't get fired, and it's a great way to glorify His work in my life in the process.

In fact, Wednesday I was learning the practicality of the words that Pastor Danny has quoted several times from the pulpit: "The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of cheap price." My friend's bicycle got a flat the previous Thursday on the way home, and Wal-Mart said they didn't have the inner tube size for it (it's a pretty big bike), and I didn't know where a bicycle shop was, so I just grabbed a Wal-Mart cheap-o and rode it to and from work. And regretted it.

The bicycles I've been riding all have that wonderful disconnect between the seat and the frame, held together by a spring on the shaft. It keeps the bumps from ramming your rear as you travel along. Well, a cheap bicycle doesn't have such a comfort-minded construction, and I said to myself, "I can get this quality from a pawn shop." So I did, and saved about $25 more (after replacing the inner tube twice).

And I regretted that, too, because the inner tube couldn't overcome the dry-rotted front tire. I had a flat on the way to work Wednesday, and I had to walk from Haines Road and 59th Ave N. the rest of the way to work. Someone from church was at Cracker Barrel when I got there, and he knew where a bicycle shop was and he got me a quality inner tube. But, in the meantime, I got to tell my coworkers about the saying and, while they were laughing, point out that I got it from my pastor.

After my shift, I got a ride home from another friend from Calvary Chapel (who had actually requested me as a server, but I was cut by the time he came in). While he was finishing up, he said to his waitress, "This is a good man." To which I immediately replied (as he expected me to), "No, I'm not a good man, I'm a redeemed man. The only good that you see in me is Jesus Christ." Thanks, John, for that lead-in. =)

With this inspiring memory in my mind as I worked Friday, I noticed a book held by one of my customers as he took his seat and I greeted him. It's author was L. Ron Hubbard. Yes, that guy.

So, as I took and entered his order, I prayed hard, “Lord, please let me get to this man!” I knew I didn't have a whole lot of time, and I didn't want to neglect my other tables, but I did not want to let this fish get away!!

After I had delivered his food to his table, I asked him, “So, I noticed that you're reading a book by L. Ron Hubbard. Isn't he the founder of Scientology?”

“Yes.”

“Are you a Scientologist?”

“Been one for four years.” Oh, so he's very deceived. Help me, Lord!

I hesitated, but he encouraged me to ask anything I wished about Scientology. So I asked if Dianetics was really a novel. He said that it's a “how-to manual” on the human mind. “So it's psychology?”

“No....If I drove to a mechanic and asked him to define what an engine is, and he couldn't tell me, do you think I would trust that mechanic with my car?” No. “I've asked many psychologists [to define the human mind] and they said they didn't know.”

“Well, that doesn't surprise me. I don't have any faith in psychology.”

Then he proceeded to tell me how Scientology doesn't really require you to believe—it helps you to see. I didn't comment to that, but a verse of Scripture came immediately to mind: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him...” So Scientology is clearly diametrically opposed to Scripture.

But even more than that, it is deceptive. Faith doesn't mean that you believe something that is obviously not even true. Faith is basing your decisions in life on revealed principles (I hope that they are revealed to us by God, or we're in real trouble) without necessarily seeing the results. The reason for having faith is that the One who promised has already proven Himself faithful—trustworthy.

Anyway, I didn't waste time arguing the point with him, because I had other tables to serve. So I excused myself, telling him that I would return. (And it helped him get to enjoy his food before it got cold.) I continued to pray, not knowing which direction to go. I considered using the Good Person Test, but Scientology is full of tests, and I didn't think I had time to administer it and still do well with my other tables.

I had already asked him what he believed about life after death, and he had said that we come back again and do it all over again (which he told me differs from reincarnation by the thought that your status in your next life is not determined by your behavior in this life--we all get a clean slate, according to Scientology); but I knew that if I followed that trail to try to show him how wrong it was, we could be there for hours.

When I finally got back to him, I apologized for not getting back sooner, and I tried to excuse myself, because I had a table waiting for me (fortunately, they were a group of ladies catching up and weren't bothered by the ensuing delay; the Lord blessed me that day with three tables for whom I had unwarranted delays, and another whom I did not serve extremely well, and I still had no complaints; I appreciate grace, but I need to do better), but he stopped me by asking, “So what is it in life that you are trying to accomplish on your own?”

I didn't need a line to turn the conversation. The Lord supplied one through him. “Nothing: I depend on Jesus Christ for everything.”

“That's great. You know, one of the basic tenets of Scientology is that you never change someone else's religion.”

“One of the basic tenets of Christianity is that you seek to change everyone else's religion!”

Then he tried to say that there were all kinds of Christians who were using the principles of Dianetics in order to help people overcome different difficult issues in life.

“The bottom line of Christianity is this: 'What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and yet lose his own soul?' It doesn't matter how good my life is if I end up in the flames.” I thanked him for his time, shook his hand, told him I hoped to see him in Heaven, and bid him adieu.

I didn't get to talk about sin, righteousness, and Judgment, but I think the Holy Spirit was already working on him. I didn't get his name, but you can still pray for him. Thanks for reading.

Aftermath

2009-10-09T06:25:00.000-07:00

So Mike is a bit more wary when he's speaking and I'm in the room. I'm guessing that Laura explained the content of our conversation to him about the disrespect that characterizes his (and others') way of speaking. Or he just picked up on the fact that talking about sin makes me talk more about Jesus. =D

I did have a conversation with Jodie Wednesday. She was saying that God wasn't there Sunday night when her ex broke into her house, slashed her tires, and threatened her.

"You're still alive, right? So how wasn't God there?"

She had to think about that. "You know what? You're right!"

"God doesn't stop us from making bad decisions, but that doesn't mean that He abandons [the victims of the crime]." I asked her if she had a Bible. She didn't. She said that one of her customers had given her a Bible a couple of years ago (her first!) but she couldn't understand it. I asked about the translation and offered to get her another one that was a bit easier. She said she'd be delighted.

So I brought it to her Thursday, having picked it up from Chapel Books Wednesday night after service (which was another clarion call message from the Lord; very encouraging). Julian saw me bring it in and set it on the table in the break room (because she was busy at the time, so I just showed it to her from across the line and took it back there with a note on it) and asked her about it. Then he asked me about it. Then he wanted to know if I was Catholic or Christian. Then he wanted to know what the difference between Christianity and Catholicism is. I told him that our Bibles are different (which is very true). And now I have an open door to talk to him further. Leonardo was listening.

Please continue to pray for my coworkers. Thanks for reading.

Expected

2009-10-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

Laura, our training coordinator, called me aside Monday. The Lord told me what it was going to be about: my witnessing on the job.

Well, Laura confirmed that in the kindest way possible. She is a Christian herself, and so is our GM, but someone had complained because I was pretty aggressive. So she just told me to wait until they ask me something. I guess I can do that. [smirks]

But it gave me the opportunity to explain my strategy: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has a “country fresh” environment, by theory. Meaning that profanity and sexual innuendo aren't particularly welcome. Well, it may not be welcome, but it's certainly been abundant! Now, I'm not naïve, I have worked in restaurants before, and I know from experience the kinds of people who are drawn to the restaurant business.

I cannot handle too much verbal filth without sinking into it myself. I used to curse, and words still exit my mouth that I must apologize to the Lord for from time to time, and that is due to my acceptance of the cursing around me. I must resist sin in order not to fall prey to it.

I have two options in my fight: I can make myself the focus by claiming offense, or I can make the focus God by pointing it out as sin. I have, up to this point, chosen the latter. CBOCS policy prefers I do the former. Laura was delighted that I did the latter, but she has a job to do. I had chosen to do the latter because it gets to the root of the problem: if people are not saved, they will do evil without restraint. If they get saved, the Holy Spirit lives inside them to help the overcome sin, as He does in me.

I don't know who complained, but I have clearly witnessed to several of them. Admira actually asked me why I was so fervent about Jesus, and I was able to tell her, “Because Jesus saved me from my sin and gives me power over sin in my life.”

I'll continue to do the former. Laura was even further pleased that I had shown so much restraint by not constantly griping about the dirty talk around me. She was also glad to be apprised of the violations of company policy so that she could do something about it (we might be hiring some new servers). I'm glad it came out, and I went out and had a good night. May you have a good day. Thanks for praying for my coworkers.

International Busyness

2009-09-28T08:20:00.000-07:00

No, I haven't been traveling (I'm waaaaaaaaaaay too broke for that), but I have recently signed up to volunteer with Friends of International Students, a ministry of Calvary Chapel Saint Petersburg, that reaches out to the world at our front door. A small group of us (I know of six volunteers, including myself, and the leaders, Dave and Trish Stevenson) set up engaging activities to help students from all over the world practice English so that we can share the love of Jesus with them.

This past Saturday, we went to several museums, as they had come together to offer an open house. I joined the group late because a) I didn't check my email until late, and b) I didn't call to see if they could pick me up on the way--I just took a bus downtown, thinking I could just catch up with them, and, if it had not been for the Lord and the kindness He put into the hearts of the helpful ladies at the Florida International Museum of St Petersburg College, I would have been stranded downtown unless I decided to walk home. All wasn't lost, though--I did get to see some of the spiritual meanings behind many artists' work and why art is such a powerful spiritual medium (hence the Commandment not to make graven images--not saying that that's what all art is, just acknowledging the potency of the forbidden). I also got to speak to a Jehovah's Witness who was drawn by my "Jesus Freak" T-shirt.

Funny, she tried to tell me that she was a Christian. "Really?" I said. "Every Jehovah's Witness I know tells me that Jesus isn't God."

And, of course, she used her cherry-picks just as she has been trained, and I returned with Thomas' worship of Jesus and Peter's refusal of worship from Cornelius: "Peter made Cornelius get up, Jesus didn't do that to Thomas." I am really appreciating Bill Perry for introducing the "Simply the Story" method of teaching the Bible--drawing our conclusions from the real life illustrations of biblical principles recorded in the Bible--to us in the Perspectives class. I hope that sticks with her.

I finally did catch up with the rest of the group. There were four students and, with the addition of me, four volunteers, and two tag-a-longs who brightened the experience (one of the volunteers' son and his school friend; they are 12). We went to the Pier and enjoyed the hats in the hat shop, visited the top level and got a nice view, visited the Aquarium, and then the fishing pier. While on the fishing pier/picnic area, I tried to engage one of the students in a spiritual conversation, but his English isn't great, and the conversation stalled several times and then died. I guess I'm going to have to learn Chinese (he is from Taiwan).

Then we went to the Museum of Fine Arts (more bad religion honored), and I got more looks at my shirt. In fact, I was looking over my shoulder (security guard habit), and I saw these ladies reacting to it. For those of you who have never seen it, it is a bright red T-shirt, with what looks like two taped messages on the front and back. The front says, "Yes, I Am A..." and the back says, "Jesus Freak!!!" and in small blue letters "1 Peter 4:16" [which says, "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name" (NIV)]. The messages aren't taped at all, but whoever designed the artwork for the screen-printing did a phenomenal job. I've had so many people, including one of the Japanese students Saturday, try to pick at the "tape" to see if it was real.

Anyway, one of the ladies, as soon as I had turned my head, clicked a picture of it with her cell phone to send to her son. During the ensuing conversation (in which her friend got offended because those who hate are considered murderers by God; oh well), I found out that she is Jewish, and, actually, she was appalled at the idea that she needs Jesus. So, why she was so excited about the shirt, I'll never know. I just thank God that I got to witness to her. And right in front of the students, no less!

While going through the displays, Dave struck up a conversation with one of the contractors who was helping with the exhibit. The contractor mentioned that the public has to catch up to art, that artists are often far ahead of the curve, so far that they are thought ludicrous. I said, "That's just like science and the Bible. You know, the Bible says something, and then science has to catch up with it years later." He managed an awkward, "Right." I then walked away. I heard him laughing at me as I did, and he couldn't contain the smile every time he saw me thereafter. Dave later told me that he said to the museum worker standing with him, "Whatever!" I don't think he'll forget that soon. I wish I had had the Gospel tract that shows some proof of that, but I probably could not have handed it to him, anyway, so...

There was room in Dave's van to give me a ride home, so I did not end up stranded. And I had a great time. Please pray for the students as we continue to minister to them. You can contact Dave Stevenson about getting involved with this ministry here in St Pete by contacting me via email, and I'll forward your information to him. Thanks for your prayers!

He Calls Himself a Man of God

2009-09-03T06:52:00.001-07:00

I met a man who used to be a pastor. He surprised me when he said he wasn't all that eager to enter Heaven: "I'm not trying to go there too soon." Now, that is something that I would normally agree with, because I would be thinking about 1 John 5:16, the sin unto death. But that's not what he meant.

"I want to get to that threescore and ten years that God has promised me."

"God didn't promise anybody threescore and ten."

"Oh, yes, He did!" Milt was counting Psalm 90:10 as a promise of length of years, but, if you read the verses above it, you see that Moses is acknowledging the fact that God is simply putting up with us to keep us here that long. In fact, Moses isn't calling this a long life, but a short life.

I tried to explain to Milt that, in the beginning, God let men live into the 10th century of their lives. Then, when He was preparing to send the Flood, He said that the years would be dropped to 120 (Genesis 6:1-5), and, here in Psalm 90, Moses is saying that we have so taxed God's patience that He again dropped the age to 70, maybe 80.

But he would have none of it. He tried to tell me how many Bible colleges he's been to (three), how long he's been in ministry (33 years), and how many organizations he's a part of (I forgot). But that doesn't change the fact that he doesn't know what he's talking about, AND his greatest hope isn't Heaven, by his own proclamation.

I will probably see him again. He's Shane's spiritual advisor, and he was picking up Shane's wife and children in order to take them to see Shane in the hospital yesterday (Shane had to be sedated because he hates being in the hospital, so the visit was shortened), and he expressed a desire to "put [me] in [my] place" on the ride there.

If you have had any hesitation about praying fervently for Shane, please drop it now.

Pray for Suzy

2009-08-20T11:58:00.001-07:00

So I was online at Panera yesterday morning and a young man dropped off a young lady who was wearing a green T-shirt that read "Green Monstah!" (a reference to the gigantic wall in left field at Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.). I greeted her with, "Oh, no! Are you from Boston?" which is the friendly way to greet a fan from a rival city (both Tampa Bay Rays, who BEAT the Red Sox last year for the AL championship, and the Saint Louis Cardinals, who were swept by the Sox in their 2004 run to the World Series).

I asked her what she was doing there, and she said that she was killing time while her boyfriend (who had dropped her off) was at work. Sweet. "So have you ever taken the Good Person Test?"

She didn't want to admit to stealing, but, once I gave her my example, she agreed that she had done it, too. She was shocked to find out that she is a murderer by God's standard, but I was surprised by her plan for Judgment Day: "Go to church?" Um. Nope.

So I mentioned Jesus, but she didn't understand how that worked. O_o What church was she talking about?

So I asked, "Would you be innocent or guilty before God on Judgment Day?"

"Probably guilty!"

"So what does God do with guilty people on Judgment Day?"

"I don't know...send them to Hell?"

"So what does that say for you?"

"I'm going to Hell."

"And we all deserve that, because we are all guilty before God. That's why God sent Jesus to come live the perfect life. Then, on the cross, God poured out His wrath upon Jesus, during those three hours of darkness, when everyone was silent, because they could feel the presence of God, and they knew He wasn't happy--so that He wouldn't have to pour out His wrath on you and me."

Somehow we started talking about her living situation: she is staying with her boyfriend's family until she goes back to Boston. But she only said that she was living with her boyfriend, so I had to ask. The answer was no, and her reason for it was that she was raised...Mormon. Then she told me that her boyfriend's parents are Christians.

"Wait a minute: They are Christians, and you're not a Christian, and..." I was going to say, "And they let him date you!?" but, before I could say that, she replied, "Well, that depends on how you view the LDS church."

"No, it doesn't. When I asked you what you were going to do about Judgment Day, you didn't say anything about Jesus."

"Well, some people are a little nervous talking to a complete stranger about this kind of stuff."

"Well, ma'am, Jesus said, 'If you deny Me before men, I'll deny you before My Father in Heaven.'"

"But...non-Christians probably won't feel comfortable saying that..."

"Exactly. You see, Faith is knowing, and living out your life with the confidence that He is there and that He has given you victory over sin, and death, and hell, so you just blurt it out!"

"That makes sense. Wow, you make me want to read my Bible."

"Yes!" [double fist-pump extended] "That's what I live for. I want people to go read their Bibles, because , you're right, I am a stranger off the street, I could be lying to you, but, if you have God's Word, then you can't be fooled by anything. ... Jesus said this, 'If you continue in My Word, then you are My disciple indeed (that means that you are actually a Christian), and you shall know the truth (you won't be taken by the devil's lies anymore), and the truth shall make you free (and He means free from sin, as He explains in the verses that follow).'"

She had been standing the whole time we were talking, so I asked her name (Suzy) and her boyfriend's name (I don't remember, but you can pray for him and his whole family: if they really are Christians, then they probably need help discipling her once she does get saved, and, if they are only Christian in name, then they need salvation just as much as she does), and she went inside. Please pray for her soul, and her family's. Thanks for reading.

Persistence.

2009-08-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

I recently read a Jews for Jesus newsletter about persistence, and the difference between pushy and persistent. I don't know if that was what was going through my mind as I rode home Wednesday night or what, but it certainly characterized the event that follows:

I saw a bunch of police lights flashing as I got to the end of 35th Street to make the turn down 76th Terrace (the back way from Gandy to my trailer), and I saw these two Asian guys standing at the intersection, smoking cigarettes. So I asked them what was going on (they didn't know) and why they were standing there ("taking a break" from visiting a friend, because he was getting his haircut, and they didn't want to smoke inside). I was past them already when I stopped my bicycle, and I was just going to go on home, but I decided to try anyway:

"Have you guys ever taken the Good Person Test?"

At the end of the questions, I asked, "So, what is God going to do with you on Judgment Day?"

One of them said, "Well, I'm a Buddhist, so I don't believe in God, necessarily."

So I used a Ray Comfort tactic: "IF there is a God, would you be innocent or guilty on Judgment Day?"

"Guilty."

"And what does God do with guilty people on Judgment Day?"

"Well, the story goes that He sends them to Hell."

"So, if there is a God, then you're going to Hell."

"Yeah, I guess, but I don't think about it that much, because I really don't believe that there necessarily is a God."

"Do you like that idea?"

"No, I mean, who really wants to go to Hell?"

"So do you want the solution, or are you content in your own beliefs?"

"Well, I'm content in my own beliefs, but I'm open to listen to anything."

So I gave him the Gospel. He said it made sense to him. I said, "Of course, it does, because it's the truth!"

"Well, everyone likes to think that what they believe is true."

"Yes, but the truth is the truth whether I believe it or not. Otherwise, it's just an opinion."

He and his friend both nodded.

Afterwards, Eric (the first guy) thanked me for talking to him. He said, "A lot of times when people come up to me, I feel like I'm being attacked. But you didn't do that. ... It didn't seem like you were trying to convince me."

"Oh, I'm definitely trying to convince you!"

"But I didn't feel attacked, and I appreciate that."

It kind of shocked me, because I thought I was being pretty aggressive. I mean, I wasn't letting go, but he was not only not offended, but actually thankful. Life is getting weirder everyday.

Samuel's Ears

2009-07-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

So I was lying down nicely, almost asleep, when my phone rang. Thinking that it might be someone I knew, I roused myself, only to miss the call. I called back and heard this odd voice mail message, in which the speaker kept saying the word, "you," in a weird way every time she said it. And she sounded lesbian, too.

So I left her a message, saying something like, "Hey, I know our wires got crossed, but I want you to know about the forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ, I hope you've been washed by His blood so you can have eternal life."

And I went back to bed.

I was almost asleep again, when I heard, beep-beep-beep-beep, which is my phone's way of telling me that I have received a voicemail. I thought, Oh, I'll just check it in the morning, it can't be that important.

"Get up, and go check it now."

So I did.

"Hi, Joshua, my name is Kelly, and I'm sorry, I mixed up the phone numbers, ... but God and me are fine right now, I don't need all that."

Um, you are not right with God if you don't have Jesus, ma'am.

So I called her back! This time I got her, and she tried to blow me off again. Well, sorry:

"Let me tell you, the Lord got me out of bed and told me to come check my voicemail, because this was just too important. Let me ask you, have you ever told a lie? What does that make you, if you tell a lie? Well, if I told you a lie, what would you call me? Have you ever stolen something? What does that make you if you steal? Have you ever hated someone? [No, I could never bring myself to do that.] Well, have you ever cursed at someone or called someone mean names? Did you know that Jesus said that makes you a murderer? [She said she didn't hear me.] Jesus said that if you call someone mean names, you get the same punishment as a murderer on Judgment Day."

"But I just ask for forgiveness, and I know that God is a forgiving God, and I feel that He has forgiven me."

But not outside Jesus. As I tried to press this point, she told me that she had been in a coma for two-and-a-half months three years ago, and, after that, had a tube in her throat, which prevented her from speaking to anyone else but God, and she definitely talked to Him. She believed that He and she were on the same page.

I challenged (gently) if she had heard back from God, noting that she could not do so unless she had been reading His Word. She said that her feelings were how God communicated to her. "Oh, no, our feelings can come from either God or the devil. We need to have God's Word in order to make sure we are getting the truth."

"Well, I have a Bible. I'll read it."

"Well, that's the only thing I wanted to talk about. God bless you, Kelly."

Then I tried to go back to sleep, and the Lord made me come to Dunkin Donuts so I could share this with you right now. And now I have one tract left: I'm going to give it away, and then go to bed! God bless you, and thanks for praying for Kelly!

Week In Review

2009-07-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I've been super busy, and surprisingly tired out by the bigger bicycle (I finally stopped trying to go full speed Thursday). I think the wheels are a good 4" in diameter larger than my other one, and the tires are much wider, meaning more friction. I don't think the disc brakes are an issue, though they are great stoppers!

Anyway, Tuesday, I was trying to catch the 52 so I could visit a potential client, so I went over to the Park Place Mall. At the designated bus shelter (there are four shelters down there, each with its own set of buses and directions), I paused to look at the schedule (which they so kindly have posted on the back). As I approached, I saw a young lady on the phone. I was wary about stopping to talk to her, because she was so young (I was guessing 16), and I didn't know how I was going to witness to her, because I wasn't wearing any "Jesus" T-shirts and I didn't have any tracts (they came in on Friday). Well, you know the Lord...

Suddenly, she exploded into the phone, filling the surrounding air with insults, filth words, and even a death threat! Wow, I thought. "Angry?" I said.

"A little," she understated.

"Let me guess: [some girl] is sleeping with your boyfriend?" (I've heard so many phone explosions over that issue, so I just guessed...way wrong.)

"No, it's my mom."

"You talk like that to your mother?"

"Yes! She deserves it!"

"Why?"

"She was a crack addict for three years. [Obviously, she isn't now, but forgiveness wasn't part of this girl's vocabulary]...And she never listens to me! She always takes other people's sides against me!"

The situation in question (which I found out as we continued the conversation) was that the girl had been accused by her school of using her phone during class. She said she wasn't, but her mom believed the school authorities and told her that she could not go to see her 19-year-old boyfriend, who is in jail.

"What is he in jail for?"

"Possession of marijuana."

Why was your mother ever going to let you see him in the first place???? No, I didn't say that. But, when she complained (now this was a very loud conversation in front of about five or six other sets of burning ears) that her mother hangs up the phone when she tries to talk to her, I told her that I would, too, if some 15-year-old brat started calling me names and cursing at me.

Wanna know the funny part? I said, "So I guess you think you're a pretty good person."

"I am." She paused because I started looking at her sideways. "I know what just happened doesn't make it seem like it, but--"

I couldn't take it: "You just cursed out your mom and threatened her life! Are you serious?" The rest of the conversation, sadly, was spent trying to get her to understand that she was greatly offending God by her behaviors: her disrespect towards her mom, her general attitude towards authority, and her drug abuse (obviously, she does "weed," too; and, yes, I did confirm this with her). I didn't get her name, but I left her with, "You need to apologize to your mom, and repent; God is seriously angry with you right now."

Unfortunately, I saw her blazing away with her mom, who had called her back during our conversation, hung up when the girl got unreasonably loud and mean and would not let her get in a word, and called back, and called back, after I boarded the bus. I did manage to tell her something Rod Knapp had told me before: God puts authority in our lives, and when we dodge one, we come under another. And I told her, "Mom is a lot nicer than government." Pray that she heeds before she gets destroyed.

Wednesday night I had the pleasure of serving two homosexual men as they came to check out our store (on 4th Street North, and 88th Ave, right across the street from Starbuck's). I had the pleasure. They were none too pleased.

It started innocently enough: I had thought initially that the person exiting the driver's seat of the pickup truck that had just pulled in was a woman. Then I saw that I was waaaaaaaay wrong. So then I started praying. Pastor Bob Coy of Calvary Chapel Ft Lauderdale was preaching his Wednesday night service (I wish I could get free WiFi there, so I could stream Calvary Chapel St Pete's Wednesday night services, but CCFL will have to do), and I was wearing a "Not Just Jews For Jesus" green T-shirt with giant letters on it, so there is no way on earth they could have missed the fact that they had just walked into Christian territory. But, apparently, the type of Christians they know all teach false doctrine, so they didn't feel uneasy at all (plus Pastor Bob wasn't talking about homosexuality at the time).

I waited until they were ready to check out, then I asked them my usual deadly question: "Have you ever taken the Good Person Test?" We got stuck on the question of if calling someone mean names is hatred, even though it is not treating them with love. Then Steve (no, the other guy's name was not Adam, it was Chris) said, "But the message of the cross is that you can be forgiven of all these things." True enough, but incomplete.

"But the cross also says that we now have the power, through Jesus Christ, to overcome these sins."

"No, I believe that the message of the cross is that you can continue to mess up and still be forgiven." When I tried to point him to Romans 6, then the fun began: "The Bible is not the authority."

His primary argument was that the Catholic Church had guardianship over the Holy Scriptures for too long for him to trust them. This is a patently false view of history, one that Satan loves for two reasons: if you like the Catholic church, then you let them tell you that they have authority over the Scriptures and can "interpret" (meaning, twist) it to mean whatever they want it to, as well as ignore it whenever it suits them [yes, I have had Catholic apologists tell me that the church is in authority over the Bible]; if you hate the Catholic church, then you are successfully inoculated when someone wants to tell you what the Bible says, because you view it as fruit from the proverbial poisoned tree.

[Pause to note: I know that there are people in the Catholic church who don't believe everything their church teaches, but that doesn't mean that their church doesn't teach it.]

Obviously, the latter was his position, but it is false: there has always been an independent Church, possessing the Scriptures in their own language, in direct opposition to Rome's dictates, and under frequent attacks from the Vatican. E.H. Broadbent documents this in his book, The Pilgrim Church (you can get a copy from thebereancall.org; I think it's $20; very well worth it). Luther and Calvin actually opposed this Church when they led their respective movements (which is why I don't respect them very much; yes, they were strong against a clear enemy, but they were so blind to their true allies).

But when I tried to tell him this, he insisted that I was completely ignorant of history. So I wrote down the title of the book for him, and the author. He still insisted that his position was right. Of course, this is only because he wants to be able to hold on to sin and hold on to Jesus at the same time, but, as Jesus so plainly told us in Matthew 7:21-23, it doesn't work that way. He tried to tell me how much he had studied the Bible as a kid growing up, and that he had studied for the priesthood. Sorry, bro, you missed that part about, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3,5). And he insisted that the Gospels were written a minimum of 100 years after Jesus' time on earth. But Sir William Ramsay, as early as the 1800s, clearly proved from archaeology in the Middle East that all the Gospels were "written by a baptized Jew in the thirties or forties A.D.," something that liberal theologians like to ignore and to hide from their students (see Dave Hunt's In Defense of the Faith for citation).

Chris asked me how old I am. When I told him, he said, "I want to see you when you are forty and get your position at that time."

I have never responded this way to this absolutely ridiculous rejoinder: "Why not ask the guys who say this stuff who are already in their fifties? They've been saying it for as long as I will have been by then."

"But I want to talk to you!"

Why? I'm supposed to change the facts of history in the next 14 years of my life? Ludicrous.

Anyway, Steve told me that he didn't come to the Amish Market (Hello?) to get preached at.

Too bad.

I don't recall anything from Thursday right now. Friday, I was trying to get to downtown St Pete to catch up with Team Hope, but I had left my wallet at home, which holds my bus pass, so I rode my bike back home, and was going to catch the 52 at the Park Place Mall (again) to get there...but the bus was pulling out while I was over 300 feet away. So, I had begun the journey with a few more than 100 tracts, intending to hand them out on the bus and downtown, but hadn't dispensed most of them on my walk, so I just turned around and stood between the movie theater and the shopping plaza...and ran out of tracts in ten minutes! Wow! I didn't know that the Regal Theater held that many people on a Friday night (but that's because I don't ever go). Some people didn't take, some people dropped them once they realized that they were Zero Dollar Bills, not real money, and some people laughed about the Zero, some people insisted on getting their very own Zero dollar Bill, and some people thoughtfully read it.

I thought that I was out of tracts when I left, but, as I entered my trailer part, I realized that I had two more still in my pocket. I handed one of those to the guy standing outside the trailer next to mine, and the last one I gave to a homeless couple on US 19 as I went to catch up with Team Hope as they returned to Calvary Chapel.

So, yeah, it's been a fun, busy week!

Oh, today, I went up to Aldi's and saw Saraia for the first time in about a month. She smiled when I told her that I had been praying for her just this morning because I haven't seen her in a while. She still hasn't read the book, only my note to her in it. I think she is hesitant because she knows that following Jesus means giving up her life (that's what it means for everyone, not just homosexuals: "He who seeks to save his life will lose it; he who loses his life for My sake will find it" Jesus said), and she doesn't want to do that just yet. Please continue to pray for her.

Thanks for your prayers for my grandmother. My aunt reports that she is doing better. Please also continue to pray for my neighbor Dave, for the Woods family (I still have not heard back from them; the mom emailed me to tell me that they were in the accident, but she probably hasn't had time for more communication), and for the RCH Orphanage in Thailand.

I don't have an update on Lori Ogle, except to say that her Dessert Venue fundraiser in early June was a great success. Her tentative departure date was set for sometime in August, but I don't know the details. The Calvary Chapel St Pete High School Youth are preparing for a trip in August to Guatemala. Danielle Nadzan is going to Uganda, either this month or next. Joe Nerad has been back from Bible College in Hungary for about three weeks. Um...let's see. Always keep Paul and Marcia Cowley in prayer (Nairobi, Kenya; I just saw an article in my local paper about clean water being scarce over there). Natalie Stillman came to Mission Minded in June to tell us about her time in Bethlehem, where she serves with YWAM, but is eager to do more than YWAM can do. Who else?

Oh, Jim and Jan Larson have moved out of their home in St Pete and are staying at one of D&D's places until they launch. I don't have a date for them, either, but they are looking to help Paul and Marcia Cowley. And Sue Richards recently finished training in Mexico for Shepherd's Staff. She has no clear direction on where to go, so please continue to pray for that for her.

I should write on Saturdays more often, so I can include all this extra information.

But I should also write during the week, so I can shorten the emails! Thanks for bearing with me. God bless you all! Thanks so much for your prayers.

The Full Story

2009-07-05T14:02:00.001-07:00

Some of you may have noticed, or may notice in the future, the different looking bicycle that I'm riding. Let me tell you what happened.

I was headed in the direction of work Tuesday so I could do some prospecting for my sales job before I went in to work at the Amish Market. I was cycling rather quickly to get through the merge lane onto Gandy from I-275 (the car coming was plenty far behind me), and I moved too quickly across the lane. I lost control of the bicycle, couldn't get it back, and, making sure I landed in the grass, dismounted rather roughly.

I got up quickly, not feeling any bruises or injuries, and went to remount my bike. Well, there was no point. The front wheel was so bent that it could not move, the chain was off, and the handle bars were turned 90 degrees. I took all this in as the bus approached, going in the direction I needed, but I was more than 500 feet from the next bus stop. And there were rain clouds coming.

I contemplated just leaving the bicycle there, but that would be littering. So I dragged it along, hoping to reach teh bus shelter before the rain drenched me.

Well, I hadn't made it far before the rain started coming. I was already thinking about the conversation I had had with a missionary from our church named Sean (who serves in a hostile country in Southeast Asia) and how he had talked about going through hard trials and how blessed the end result was. I had cringed when he said this. I am in a trial (mostly of my own making) and I don't like it. And it was going to get harder?

Sean had prayed for me, and I had spent some time with the Lord afterwards, learning what Paul Svoboda means when he says to "sit at the feet of Jesus" (he's been saying that for as long as I can remember, but I've never known what he meant until now), and dreading the time to come. And it might happen that way, but the end will be blessed, so I have to say, with some hesitation: "Bring it on!" (Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song like that a few years back; it's on Declaration).

Now I was thinking, So, this is how it starts. I lose my bike, and now what? Oh well, the Lord will carry me through this, and I will be a better servant for it. Then a pick-up truck stopped (just what I had prayed for when I realized that I needed to remove my bike from the roadside) far in front of me, backed up a bit, to be sure to be out of the way of traffic, and waited for me as the rains began to come down. I walked the bike (the back wheel was still functional) up, and he asked if I had been hit (no) and where I was going (by now I just wanted to get to the Amish Market, because the rain was going to stop me from doing what I had planned, because I have lost my umbrella...again).

Thankful for this kindness, I asked the man if he was a Christian. I did this trying to see of his kindness was born of the Spirit of God, or of self-righteousness, which would damn his soul. He told me that he was a Buddhist (a white, middle-aged American Buddhist...you don't meet those every day), and that he had converted 15 years ago, but his wife had been one since 5 (presumably a parental decision for her; she was not present at this time). He asked if I were a Christian (of course, I affirmed), and said that he believed in tolerance for all religions (sorry, bro, all religions lead to Hell--Jesus gives eternal life without religion at all).

I asked him what he thought would happen to him when he died. He said, "Oh, I think I'll be reincarnated. How about you? I guess you think you'll go to Heaven?"

"Yes."

"Well, you know, I don't think that you have to be a Christian to be a good person."

"You're right, but I don't believe that there are any good people."

"Well, that depends on your value system."

"Well, the only value system that really counts, is that of our Creator, God, because He is the ultimate [I should have said, only] judge."

"Well, that kind of depends on whether or not you believe in a God."

"Well, if you don't believe in Him, it kinda sucks to be you, because He still exists."

Now, at this point, I had guided him to the Market, and we were pulling into the parking lot. In fact, he was pulling into a parking space. I think this influenced what happened next.

He got very angry and said, "That does mean that my faith is wrong, and I don't appreciate you trying to convert me. I don't mind you spreading the word [yes, you do], but I don't like you coming in here and trying to tell me that I'm wrong. so get your bike and get out of my car!"

I just yielded and did as he said. Some divine appointments end this way. Many of Jesus' did. Keep him in prayer, please.

Oh, the rest of the story: A few days later, Randy at the Market lent me his bike. He said that he would try to find me one, but I could use his until he goes hunting in October. It's a Mongoose, too, but it's a couple inches higher, and the wheels aren't already bent (meaning that it actually accelerates when going down hill). The shifting is different, but I'll adjust. What I really need is not a mountain bike, which is what I had and what he has, but a road bike, something that has thinner wheels, designed to reduce friction. It may not have shocks, because it isn't designed for rough terrain, like a mountain (Hey, it's only Pinellas County roads, not the rural highways of China--big difference). So, thanks for your prayers, and please keep an eye out for a bike that I could use in October (or sooner).

Long Time Coming

2009-07-03T09:57:00.001-07:00

Sorry, it has been absolutely pouring rain lately, and I just don't have money to replace the laptop that I must carry to and from either Panera Bread (where I am today) or Dunkin Donuts in order to get Internet access. So I am waaaaay behind on updates, but some are definitely worth the wait.

First, my neighbor Dave. Dave told me a few weeks ago that he had quit drinking and drugs cold-turkey, and he certainly looked like it. He was going through all kinds of withdrawal symptoms, his mom was bringing him Gatorade to keep him hydrated, and his face was much, much clearer.

However, that didn't last long. One night, I awoke to hear him rejoicing with a friend that this beverage was "9% alcohol!" and claiming that it took quite a bit to get him drunk. Eventually, I arose and challenged him about it. This is the time that I told him, in front of his friend, that his friend was no friend at all, but a jerk for leading him back to alcohol.

He has continued since then to go down hill, his mother exploding one day that she was doing everything she could for him, but he wasn't doing his part! (Well, duh.) She, being motherly, does not have the heart to cut him off, while I keep trying to tell him that he needs to take responsibility for his own life, stop expecting his mom to bail him out of everything he gets into, and get a job.

I didn't give him that speech Tuesday night (more like Wednesday morning at 1:56 AM) when I awoke to him and his buddy laughing their drunk heads off. I just knocked on the door.

"David, somebody's at the door!"

"Who is it?"

"It's Joshua," I said.

"Oh."

"Good morning!" I greeted him sarcastically.

"Are we too loud?" I nodded. "Sorry, dude." And I went home and fervently prayed for him. I probably should be doing that more often anyway, but this was a very clear signal.

So yesterday his phone got cut off, for some reason, so he came over and asked if he could borrow my phone to call his mom. She told him that she had definitely paid the bill and that he should double check. He was extremely rude to her, but she told him she would call Verizon for him. He called a friend to ask him to give another friend a ride home, and then left.

Well, apparently, his mom did call Verizon, and they were supposed to come out, but they didn't, because he was back over again today, asking once again to use the phone to call his mom. You know what? He was rude to her again! This time he was leaving a message because she didn't answer, but I had had enough. "Dave, you need to show some respect to your mom, bro."

"Oh, I was respectful," he claimed.

Are you serious? I thought. "'You need to get them over here RIGHT NOW!' is not very respectful at all." (That was how he had ended the call.)

He didn't respond.

He ended up calling Verizon himself, because he could not get ahold of his mom. They told him that a technician would come today, and that his bill was indeed paid, and that he just needed to wait at home all day for them. He didn't like that answer, but oh well.

He came back over later trying to call his mom again, but she didn't answer, so he called his dad; but he didn't answer, either. He thanked me for letting him use my phone. And then he proceeded to profusely praise me for being such a great friend to him, hugging me, telling me what a cool black guy I am (all his previous black friends have been drug addicts, including some people who jumped him in a 5-to-1 beat down that he has scars to remind him about) and how I've always been there when he needed me.

I was frustrated. When will he ever repent? This is all great that he thinks I'm cool, but what about his soul? Sometimes I think that the Lord gets sick of me, but I think He could understand this gripe. But He was urging me to be patient. My boss at my evening job told me the other day that it could be 15-20 years, but there would be fruit. I hate those numbers, but I have to realize the grip that Satan has on those who follow him. God doesn't force it off. People have to be convinced to ask for Him to remove it.

So while I was typing this up today, his friend Steve called me. I didn't know that it was his friend. I didn't recognize the number, so I guessed that it was someone who I had tried to sell business cards to. He thought that I was someone trying to purchase his Honda Civic (Ha!). I tried another angle to identify this guy: "Well, I am a Christian who loves to talk to people about Jesus, so [maybe we met that way]."

"Oh, I love Jesus, man."

"Cool, man. What church do you go to?"

"I don't."

"Why not?"

"Because everytime I've gone, all the people were fake."

So I asked him how he expected anyone in church to be "real" if he refused to be there. He admitted that I had a point. He asked what church I go to, and when I told him, he realized that I am David's neighbor, and told me that he was David's friend, the one that he had called from my phone because his phone wasn't working. So then I asked him how much he read the Bible. Not much. (Not surprising.)

"But I believe in Jesus."

"Well, if you're not going to follow Jesus, it does you no good to believe in Him."

He made some excuses, tried to say that he was serious about Jesus, but I challenged him, "How can you be serious about following Jesus when you don't read His Word?"

"Good point." He said he might come up to Calvary sometime. Though not the 9 AM service, lol.

Pride Fest 2009 Report

2009-06-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

Wow. That was crazy.

That was the primary reaction I had to almost everything that passed in front of me. I tried hard not to look offended, because it would have sent the wrong message. But there were times that I failed. Like the time a guy walked by in some goofy outfit (well, more like, next to nothing at all), and I shook my head. I tried to catch myself as I realized that the man walking in the opposite direction was approaching me, but it was too late: he mimicked my head shake as he rejected my tract.

I did get a chance to speak with Eric for some time about Christ and His redemption of us from sin. I talked about how I can't make excuses for my sin, and how God can't let me into Heaven with it, and how Jesus not only cleanses our records, but He cleanses our hearts, so that we no longer desire to do sin (at least, not as much as we used to). I never brought up homosexuality--I didn't have to--but I did point out that one lie qualifies one for Hell, etc.

Sharon tried to be reasonable with a taller lady (yes, a real woman) who insisted that the Bible was a joke, that it was unscientific, that it put people down. She didn't listen to anything Sharon tried to tell her, but Sharon and Carol just pressed on until the lady finally walked away. She passed by again later shouting something at me about Jesus. I forget what she said, and what I said in reply. It was corrective, but it wasn't mean.

Of course, there was also the guy who dropped a tract on the ground and then, as he picked it up, said, "Jesus Christ!" I said, "Hey, please don't take the name of the Lord in vain."

He said, "I'm sorry, does that offend you?"

"You shouldn't worry about it offending me, because it offends Him," I responded, which is the truth: he shouldn't fear me, he should fear God.

Josh Page was asked to lead the outreach, and he was such a blessing (not that everyone else wasn't a blessing, but he just gets a special mention: the team consisted of Mike, Kim, Josh, John, me, and Sharon and Carol from Calvary Chapel Bradenton). I remember looking up at a group that was passing by while I was reloading on tracts, wishing that I had time to reach them, and there he was gently offering the message of reconciliation while this lady just wished she could bite his head off. It saddened me to watch, because of her soul, but it was kind of funny hearing the gentleness of Josh and the absolute wrath of the lady he was trying to minister to with kindness.

We ran out of tracts this year around 3 PM, so we called it quits at that point. We actually had more tracts this year than last, I think, but we did not recycle as many this year. Last year, people actually stopped to read the Cyanide Tract before throwing it down in disgust. People weren't as "caught" with the assortment of tracts that we had this year (mostly Living Waters and Custom Tract Source, including the Team Hope tract), except maybe the Good News tract that David Guild made (it's all Scripture), and, once they realized that it was about Jesus, they just threw it away, unless they were so impressed that we weren't yelling at them (yes, those guys were back) that they took it out of good will. I wish they had read it more quickly, but God knows how to work things out.

When we ran out of ordinary tracts, we started handing out bottles of water and everything else we had. We had some Gospels of John, some leaflets that help a person read Through the Bible in One Year, and some DVD's called "Stop and Think" (I haven't watched it yet, but I hear it's really good). The bottles of water at the hottest part of the day really did soften people up, for the most part, but there was one lady who insisted on hating us even when we were being so kind. We tried to reason with her, but she threw away the Gospel of John (fortunately, it was sitting on top of some paper trash, so I recycled it). I called her out on it, asking why she was throwing away the expression of God's love. She just continued to trash us.

She was so mean that her partner said she felt guilty for taking the water. We told her she had no obligation to us. It was a free gift, as Jesus gives us breath. Her daughter (I think it was her daughter) kept trying to make her be nicer, but she wouldn't have it, and she certainly didn't feel guilty in the least for taking the water we offered while calling us evil-spirited. Oh well.

Ha. Before that, one lady commented as she received the water from Kim, "Free water and religion," to which I replied, "Right: Jesus freely gives us living water!" She was surprised by the analogy and had to laugh.

I did not like to do it, but we were out of tracts and almost out of water, so I went and got the bus. We had not had any one to pray for at all (did have several people comment about the "Prayer Changes Things" slogan on our smocks, but no takers) until we were loading the bus. A man had lost his keys and was with his kids (yes, I know; we saw a lot of that down there), and he asked Josh to pray that he could find the keys. Josh did, and prayed for a little bit more, but not overmuch, and then we handed him a tract in the Love of Christ before he left. He was very grateful. I think that he and Eric were the only two truly knowledgeably kind encounters that we had that day.

There was another, but I want to talk to Gabe about it before I tell everyone else. Please pray fervently for the salvation of these souls. If James is right that our fervent prayers move God, then that is the only hope for the participants in this years celebration of sin (James 5:16). Thanks again.

Weird Day

2009-06-23T15:08:00.001-07:00

I regularly pass by Checker's and give tracts to those eating or ordering or waiting for their food. Well, today, as I was going up to Aldi's (the most pocket-book friendly grocery store in town--eat your heart out, Wally World!), I saw this scantily-clad lady ordering food (well, I don't know if she was ordering food or not, because she didn't walk away with any, and she had an open burger wrapper in her hand). My first inclination was to just ride up and tract her, because she obviously needed Jesus (or a rebuke that the tract could deliver much better than I could), but I've been wondering if that should be my automatic reaction, because tracting her means I have to move closer to her and look at her, and I'm already struggling to put my eyes in the right place. So I was going to just pass her by and pray.

But God...

Two men were getting out of their van in the parking lot, so I went to tract them. As I did, she walked away from the window (like I said before, without any food), exclaiming, "What's wrong with everybody, can't anybody smile?!" I just held out the Zero, and she took it excitedly and said, "Thanks!"

I'm glad I was already trying to get away from her, because she then proceeded to stuff the Zero down the front of her short shorts. At first, I thought she was just pulling her wallet out of her shirt, and I didn't want to see that, either, so I just turned away, and then, as I was pedaling away, she said, "Hey!" and I turned my head, and her hand was still there in her pants. I turned back quickly. "Have a good day!" she said.

I was shocked. I pray she was truly embarrassed when she realized that she was propositioning a "preacher man." It is funny how people suddenly change once they know that you are trying to talk to them about God. More on that later.

As we near the Pride Fest, I have been noticing more homosexuals around town. In fact, the first two people I tracted this morning were lesbians. And when the second Checker's incident was developing, a lesbian young woman passed by asking if we needed water. Furthermore, I am convinced that Chipotle's employee population is at least half gay. I already saw one of the girls kiss her "friend" in the parking lot after hours, and I have watched behaviors that hint that there are more. We don't really need to wait for the Pride Fest to come along.

But on to the second Checker's incident: I was walking back home from the bank, when the Lord pressed in on my heart to speak to the man sitting on the corner by Mattress Firm. He appeared to me to be out of his right mind, and I mumbled under my breath that he would not be coherent enough to speak to about the things of God. Well, the Lord rebuked me, so I turned around and let the light go on without me, even though I had gone through all the trouble of pushing that button that holds up traffic so that I can safely cross the street and not get run over by all the crazy speeders on US 19 and Park Blvd--and I went and talked to him.

He tried to make me think that he was crazy. Eventually, he spoke the truth that he was just looking for either a meal or a beer. So I told him I could get him a meal at Checker's, so we went. I kept asking him conversational things along the way, just trying to feel out the conversation and when to speak to him about spiritual things.

It was then that the lesbian rode by on her bicycle asking if we needed water, and I noted that most gay people I get to talk to tell me how nice they are to their fellowman while they are deliberately living in rebellion against God, as if one somehow outweighs the other. In truth, they are putting their fellowman (their partners) in danger of all sorts of diseases, not to mention God's wrath, while turning their noses up at the God who gives them every breath they take. And they never think about it that way, because the devil has blinded them to it. And I didn't have a tract to hand to her, because I had reached my quota, and so I left the rest at home (I only open on 100-ct pack a day, except on Fridays for Team Hope). So I do pray that I meet her again--on the right side of Heaven, if nowhere else! But that will take some "undeceiving."

We finally got to Checker's and I had the man order what he wanted. I have no idea what the cashier was thinking when he saw me doing this for him, but that's not my problem--except that I didn't have a Gospel tract for him, either. I guess I'm going to have to dispense with my wisdom and quotas. Now, not having a tract probably made me minister to this man more, because I sincerely doubt I would have bought him the meal if I had had a tract to give to him, because I would have just handed it to him and walked on, as I have done numerous times, so it could be that the Lord did direct this. And it could be that the Lord is telling me to change how I operate even if I do have "enough" tracts.

As we waited for the meal, I tried to take him through the Good Person Test. This is when he showed his true colors--he did everything he could to avoid saying that a person who tells lies is a liar, he pretended that stealing isn't stealing (how? It's too frustrating to even think about right now), and he straight up rejected the Bible's claim that hatred makes one a murderer. So he had his right mind the whole time--my fears were definitely unfounded.

I told him that Jesus promised wrath if he did not repent, and got his name (first he started to say Patrick, then he said Willie Harris; whichever one you believe is the name you pray for), and left him in the Lord's hands.

And I just took three youths through the Good Person Test as I was writing the last two paragraphs (last night; Panera's connection goes awry after 10 PM). One girl said that she was a good person before taking the test, and they all laughed through it, but they were indeed shocked when I told them that hatred makes us murderers. I told them that God can't allow anything less that perfect righteousness into Heaven, "and it's pretty obvious that none of us sitting here has it [well, I was the only one sitting, but...], so that's why God sent His Son to be the perfect man, and to give up His righteousness and take on our sins, so that, if we give up our sins--that's called repentance [here, the first girl laughed, and the boy rebuked her for being irreverent; amazing how much unrepentant sinners really do fear God]--God will give us Jesus' perfect righteousness."

Funny question, after I explained the Gospel twice, the second girl asked, "I've always wanted to know this: where in the Bible does it say that being gay is wrong?"

"Leviticus 18:22."

The boy asked, "But what does it actually say?"

"Man shall not lay with mankind as with womankind--it is an abomination."

First girl: "But aren't we all 'man'?" (nervous laughter)

"That won't work in Heaven, sorry."

Their stomachs reminded them of why they had come to Panera Bread in the first place (they were only still standing there because it is closed), and they parted. This has been one crazy day!

With or Without Tracts

2009-06-19T09:19:00.001-07:00

So I once again yesterday forgot to take tracts with me when I went to Dunkin Donuts to use their WiFi. As I was getting ready to leave, I saw a young man and a young woman smoking at the side of the parking lot. I was going to pass them anyway, so I was kicking myself for not bringing tracts to hand to them. Of course, the Lord reminded me that I don't need tracts, but I was hesitant because they were talking (actually, gossiping). But I greeted them anyway. They paused long enough for me to ask if they had ever taken the Good Person Test. And now they were hooked.

I focused mainly on the young man, because I didn't want either of them to think I was trying to flirt with the young woman.

"Question number one: have you ever told a lie?"

"Yes, of course."

"What does that make you if you tell a lie?"

"A liar?" A bit of laughter.

"Yes, a liar. Question number two: have you ever stolen anything?"

"Yeah."

"What does that make you if you steal?"

"A stealer."

"No--" she says, "A thief," and he concurs--"thief is right, because Steelers are from Pittsburgh."

[Quizzical look followed by] "Oh!" and a smirk.

"Question number three: have you ever hated anybody?"

"No."

"Have you ever cursed at someone or called them mean names?"

"Yes."

"Is that treating them with love?"

"No."

"The opposite of love is...?"

"Hate."

"So, what does it make you if you hate somebody?"

She says, "A hater!"

"No, that's the ghetto answer." Both laugh.

"I don't know."

"A murderer."

"A murderer? No, no." A friend for whom they were apparently waiting walks up, a young woman.

"But the issue is not how much harm we do to the other person. It's how angry God will be for taking His air and using it to mistreat our fellow man. That's why 1 John chapter three verse 15 says, 'Whoever hates his brother is a murderer...'"

"So I'm not a good person then?"

"Well, you just told me that you are a liar, a thief, and a murderer by God's Standard."

"Oh, man!"

"Do you think God will find you innocent or guilty of breaking His Law?"

"Definitely guilty!"

"And what does God do with guilty people on Judgment Day?"

"Sends them to Hell!"

"So what does that say for you?"

"I'm going to Hell!!" First girl interjects--or tries to--but he shuts her down. "I am going to Hell, and there is nothing you can say or do about it!"

[I compose myself from the shock] "Do you like that idea?"

"No."

"Good! Because God does not like it either. Do you know what God did for you so you don't have to go to Hell?"

"What?"

"He sent Jesus to die for your sins."

"So that means I need to pray?"

"And ask God to forgive you and to cleanse your heart from sin."

"But I do pray and ask for forgiveness."

"Have you ever asked Him to do it because of what Jesus did on the cross?"

"No, but I will now!!"

Pray that his friends don't dissuade him but are convinced by Scripture and the Holy Spirit to do so with him.

Later, I handed someone a tract while waiting for the bus. She turned out to be a proud older woman who gladly told me that she had never murdered anyone or committed adultery, so she was sure that she was going to Heaven. Well, she does have the problem of having broken the other eight Commandments, but she was sure that those were little things, and that they didn't pose a problem. When I insisted that she needed Jesus to wipe her slate completely clean because only perfection could enter Heaven, she told me that she didn't believe in Jesus.

"Well, that's why you're on your way to Hell."

"I don't believe in Hell."

I thought of a bumper sticker that someone had shared with me a few years ago: "Still don't believe in Hell? Well, it's still there, and YOU'RE STILL GOING!!" I thought that it had too much a rejoicing-in-another's-calamity tone to it, but I guess it doesn't really matter if you are dealing with hard heart that doesn't respond to truth spoken in gentle tones (yes, I do know how to do that...sometimes).

On my way back home, I handed a tract to a young lady boarding the bus, and, after she had read it and put it in her pocket, I asked, "Headed to work?"

"Nope, headed home! I finished my work already."

"Who was that waiting with you at the bus stop?"

"Oh, that was Crystal. She used to be my girlfriend."

I hesitated. I did not want to ask this question. I was expecting her to say that that was her brother. Except that, as she had turned away, I saw some womanly features, and I was rather confused. So I ended up asking the question anyway: "Is she a lesbian?" Affirmed. "Are you one?" Yep. Lord, why? I know I'm equipped to handle this conversation, but I'd rather not.

"You read that fourth commandment on that list, right?" Nods "So you know it applies to you, right?" Nods again. Oh boy.

Mark Cahill did a video called Pride Goes Before Destruction chronicling his interactions with people at Atlanta's Pride Fest a few years back. I relied on the lessons learned from that dvd for the questions that followed.

"So when did you become a homosexual?" (A young lady named Destiny had told me at Panera Bread that her father had been suppressing homosexual desires from birth. I told her that professionals had finally admitted that there was no scientific evidence for inborn homosexual desire, and she was surprised. Now I was talking to one, and I wish she could have been a fly on the wall. Oh well. Maybe I'll forward this to her email.)

"Well, I had been having desires since I was nine, but I didn't do anything about it until 10th grade." And she gave a summary.

"Why did you wait so long to act on your desire?" I actually don't remember her response.

"Where you ever abused?"

"Yes, by my father, when I was nine." Bingo! The bus had stopped at Park Place Mall, so we got off so she could smoke a cigarrette (yeah, I know, but I had bigger fish to fry at the moment). "Why do you ask?"

"Most people who choose the homosexual lifestyle have been abused. ... Women need love, men look for respect [I had refreshed myself with a look at the Workbook from the Love and Respect Conference back in February]...men have to learn to love. If a woman doesn't receive love for a man, she says, 'Well, I know where I can find love'--in a woman--and she goes that route." Sarah was nodding fervently. "But that's not God's design. I cannot ever justify what your father did to you, and I will never try. But your response is not right."

She asked me some questions about judging and condemnation. I was able to show her that 1) I don't make the rules, 2) I've broken the rules myself, 3) all of us deserve Hell, and 4) if I didn't warn her about the end of the road she was on, I would have to answer to God. Then I asked her, "Have you ever told a lie?"

"Oh, yes, many times."

"Well, the first time you told a lie, you were in a lot more trouble than being a lesbian will ever get you into. The Bible condemns lying in many more places than it does homosexuality. Have you ever stolen anything?"

She laughed, "When I was a kid, I stole a pack of gum."

I could see that. "When I was a kid, my mom told me that I couldn't have some candy, I waited until she wasn't looking, and I took it anyway. And the Book of Proverbs is full of God's commandments not to use false weights and false balances to cheat people and steal their money. But it speaks very little on homosexuality, even though it still is an abomination."

It was time to board the bus again. "Everyone has their favorite sin, but Jesus wants to take it all away from us. My favorite sin may be different from yours. It could be pornography [which I have struggled with before], it could be lying. In fact, when I was a kid, lying was indeed my biggest sin. But God made me give it up. He told me plainly, 'I can't use you if you hold onto that,' and it's true for any sin. So don't feel like I'm picking on you!" She didn't.

Finally, I told her that she was the lost sheep in Jesus' parable. Turns out that I had missed the bus before by a only a few minutes, and she had missed the same bus by only one minute. Guaranteed that bus was more crowded, considering the time of the day, and I just left it in the Lord's hands when I realized that I had missed it (I didn't have a schedule with me, but, if a bus doesn't come in five to ten minute, you can be sure that you just missed the last one).

Her name was Sarah, her ex "girlfriend's" name is Crystal, her current gf is Elizabeth, and Crystal's current gf is also named Elizabeth. I did tell her that all of them would be on my prayer list. And now they are on yours, too. Thanks for praying.

Yeah, Keep on Praying

2009-06-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

So Karen Stofer prayed for me during Mission Minded, Tuesday evening, and...the Lord responded.

As I was bicycling home, I crossed the street because of the light change at Wal-Mart (I didn't want to stop, and crossing put me on the other side of the street, closer to home, without needing to watch traffic), and, passing the bus stop, I saw a man to whom I had given a Gospel tract the day before. I didn't know why the Lord told me to do this, but I felt led to give him another one, which I usually don't do (unless it's Everett Battle, who definitely needs prayer--and I haven't seen him in a long time, so that bothers me; Everett is the wild-haired black man who has enough mental issues that he threatened people at Calvary Chapel, even though we had done everything possible to help him; he is suspected to be demon-possessed).

He remembered getting the tract from me, told me that his name was Nick, and his wife, whom he was having to stand at the Wal-Mart light to beg, is named Lauren. He was drunk and drinking some more, and he was riled up. I asked him why, and he told me that one of the two guys in the bus shelter with him, who had now walked away, had beaten and raped his wife while he (Nick) was spending a year in prison last year. Wow. You know, I hear about people not wanting homeless people around, but I never really paid a lot of attention as to why.

Suddenly, Nick looked over to where Lauren was standing, and that guy was walking with her toward Wal-Mart. Uh-oh. Nick started running, and I turned my bicycle around and followed. I had to go up that little exit ramp for the gas station (wrong way, I know), because I could not have jumped the curb (I'm not that accomplished, I just ride), and I knew I had to hurry, because Nick was out for blood--and who could blame him?

Turns out the guy had told Lauren that Nick had said for him and her to go get a beer together. Nick, understandably, was furious, recognizing that the guy was setting another trap for her. He was punching at him and actually landed a couple blows to the man's face. I only stopped him because I knew that Nick would get arrested. But it was scary standing up to a drunk, angry man and telling him to back off. I was trusting the Lord and the fact that our conversation had gone well before (even though I was rather straight with him about his need to repent).

I told the guy to walk away, but he kept sticking around, drawing Nick's ire even more. I told Nick that I would handle it, once the man finally retreated to the main parking lot, and told Nick to return to Lauren. I told the man that I would call the cops if he didn't leave right away. He told me that he had been trying to. HA!! So, why on earth was he just standing on the other side of the pump after Nick had walloped him? I told him to stop lying and walk, and he did.

Back at the bus stop, I pressed Nick to repent, telling him that his willful continuance in sin was putting Lauren in danger (which is the truth, though his own soul should be good enough reason to repent). He downed the rest of his beer and rejoined her over by the light. Please pray for them all.

Then, after getting home and going to bed, I heard my neighbor Dave coming home. He had told me last week that he had quit drinking and drugs cold turkey and that he was going through painful withdrawal, and there was plenty of evidence to back it up (he was more aware of his surroundings, and his face was clearer). But now he was with a friend and rejoicing about how the bottle in his hand was "9% alcohol" and how it took a lot of beers for him to get drunk (um, not if you are human, and certainly not if you have given your body a chance to clear itself of all that poison). I wrestled with what to do. Dave has called on me for help many times, asking for money (which I have never given him), wanting to talk (sometimes I can do that), or needing to use my phone (because the idiots he hangs out with steal his cell time after time; I have let him whenever I've been home, as long as I can reasonably deduce that he is not using it to buy more drugs), and he had told me that he was really determined to quit. And now this.

I didn't struggle long. I got up, got dressed, put my sandals on, went outside, and knocked on his door.

"Who the ----- is it?"

"It's Joshua."

"Oh. ...Hey man, what's up?"

"Are you drinking again?"

"Yeah, a little bit."

"A little bit?"

"Yeah" (Nervous laughter)

"It's not funny." (stern look)

"I know. But he's a good friend, and he's goes to college--"

"He's not a good friend if he's getting you back into alcohol--he's a jerk!" And I walked away.

And, yes, his friend heard what I said, but he was probably too busy drinking away and watching TV to care. These are the kinds of people that Dave has surrounded himself with, and they drag him down everytime. It is patently painful to watch, but Dave won't get rid of them. He doesn't have a job, so he always wants to just hang out, but I can't afford to do that, not if I want to get paid!

Dave did ask me not to "be that way" as I walked off, but I can't take it anymore. I'm tired of him letting his so-called friends get the best of him and then crying to his mom on my phone because his is gone.

And then this morning, I was headed to Panera Bread, realized I didn't have any tracts with me, crossed the street anyway, got inside, got convicted, headed back. As I was waiting to cross the street, I saw another homeless drunk guy sitting on something electrical under the Gandy overpass (on the West side) with his bicycle nearby, and drinking some more. I prayed about it, and then walked over to him as he put his bottle away in his blue backpack.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm fine...I have a question for you: why do you drink so much."

"My father died when I was a baby, he was in the Army."

"When did you start drinking?"

"[something garbled] When I was nine."

Wow.

"I need to get to a pay phone" -- he had said this several times-- "so I need to get going." I pointed him in the direction of the only pay phone I know about, the one at Citgo, and let him go.

On the way home, I prayed and prayed, grabbed some tracts, and decided to go after him, since I knew where he was going. When I caught up with him and spoke to him further, he revealed to me that he didn't want to talk about Christianity because he had had an experience with Churchianity, and "I lost the Eucharist," and it all went down hill from there. Plus, he told me that he was a loser.

I seized that: "Jesus came for losers."

"No, He didn't. He was a MAN!"

"Yes, I know that, but He became a man so that He could forgive us."

Over and over we went, but he continued to refuse. How I hate it that some well-intentioned person somehow communicated to him that Jesus was too much of a man to be bother with the likes of him. No, Jesus came specifically for losers, drunks, whores, traitors, snitches, homosexuals, liars, and anyone else who will admit how evil they really are. But he didn't feel that way.

I persisted in giving him a Zero Dollar Bill, which he finally took, hoping that one day he will be sober enough to understand the Good News it contains. His name is Raymond.

Other prayer requests:

My sister is still working to bring the Gospel to that Muslim woman. Please keep her and her family in prayer.

And my grandmother on my dad's side is failing in health. She is 74, and has had a bout with cancer, so this isn't a big surprise, but it isn't pleasant at all. I am praying about making arrangements to return to St Louis soon if she doesn't improve.

Thanks for praying for Lori Ogle's fundraiser earlier this month. It was largely successful, and she is not too far off the mark. Those inclined to support her who don't attend Calvary Chapel St Pete can look her information up at Calvary Chapel's web page for her (it is out of date, but that will change; the donation information has not changed, though). Donors don't need to commit large sums--$5 a month is good help.

Lastly, please keep our outreach to the gay Pride Fest St Pete, happening June 27. The plan is to have the Prayer Station at the last block before the entrance to the festival itself. This is a high traffic area, and it isn't illegal for us to be there. The more we invite them to be prayed for, in addition to preaching the truth to them in love, the easier it will be to show them the whole picture of God, not the one-sided half-truths they've been enslaved to all their lives.

Thanks again!

Back in the swing of things

2009-06-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

The St Pete Pride festival is in two weeks, so please be praying as I try to set up something to reach out to the people at the parade on Saturday, June 27. Hostile environment? Only if they think you hate them. Last year, we freely gave them waters and Gatorades and tracts right behind them. They couldn't argue with the love, even if they didn't like the message. This year, I am not using the Cyanide tracts. In fact, I don't know what tracts I'm going to use. I have an idea for some rainbow themed tracts, but they may have to wait until next year.

For those of you who don't know about my job, I work with LogoASAP.com. We do all kinds of promotional products for businesses, and I am a sales rep. It is a commission job, the kind I begged the Lord not to give me, but the products are so necessary for businesses that it isn't that hard to sell (business cards, mainly, but we do a lot of stuff, like T-shirts, ink pens, etc.). So I have made some money already.

The best part of this job is that the owner is a Christian, and he has absolutely no problem with me handing out Gospel tracts while I'm getting business for him. He says, "It's a Christian company, so..." Sweet.

I have about 1300 tracts right now, and I am budgeting about 100 per day, so that I don't run out too quickly. Once I start making more money, which is quite likely, I'll be able to regularly buy a monthly set. My rent will be late this month, but it will get paid from my own pocket, which is a welcome change. I do appreciate all those who have helped me up to this point, but it is so nice to be earning my own keep again.

I stopped calling on businesses yesterday because I had run out of tracts and I was running low on water. So I was walking back to where I had locked up my bicycle (it gets me to the spot, but it's way too cumbersome to drag around) and I saw these two guys sitting at the bus stop, and I was bummed because I didn't have tracts for them. The Lord asked me, "Do you need them?"

Nope! "Hey, how are you guys doing today? Have you guys ever taken the Good Person Test?"

It was a black guy (BG) and a white guy (WG), both way older than me, but they weren't in anyway put off by my approach.

WG: No, never heard of it.

BG: The what?

ME: The Good Person Test. It's a three question test to see if you are a good person.

WG: Oh, I know I'm a lousy person.

ME: How do you know that?

WG: Well, just go ahead.

ME: Question number one: Have you ever told a lie?

BG and WG: Yes.

ME: What does that make you if you tell a lie?

BG and WG: A liar.

ME: Question number two: have you ever stolen anything?

BG and WG: Yes, I have.

ME: What does that make you if you steal?

BG and WG: A thief. (Yes, they did say all these things in unison.)

ME: Right, because Steelers are from Pittsburgh (they didn't laugh). Question number three: Have you ever hated anyone?

WG: Yes.

BG: Hated anyone? No, I've never done that.

ME: Have you ever cursed at someone or called someone mean names?

BG: Yes, but that's not the same as hating them.

ME: Is that treating them with love?

BG: Is what treating them with love?

ME: When you call someone mean names, is that treating them with love?

BG: Uh, yeah--tough love!

ME: (laughing) Well, I'm not going to argue with you about that. We both know the truth. What does it make you if you hate someone?

WG: A hater.

ME: Nope, that's the ghetto answer. (He did laugh.)

BG: [What kind of answer are you looking for?]

ME: Well, if you tell a lie, you are a liar; if you steal, you're a thief; so, if you hate someone, you're a what?

BG: I don't know...a sinner?

ME: Well, what kind of a sinner? A liar is a sinner, a thief is a sinner. [They gave up.] A murderer.

WG: What? Whoa.

BG: Well, see, I've never hated anybody.

ME: Ah, but Jesus said that if you call someone mean names, you get the same punishment as a murderer on Judgment Day. And that's Matthew chapter 5, verses 21-22, so you can look it up. And you should do that, because you should never just listen to someone say that something is in the Bible, because there are so many liars in the world, as we have already established. [Actually, I don't know if we did, but I think it is a consensus.]

They let me give them the Gospel, and I emphasized the difference that Christ makes in one's life, especially as pertains to righteousness, noting that sin and Jesus are in opposite directions. We parted ways peaceably, and they had something to think about.

Thanks for your prayers.

Why I like my new job

2009-06-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

I walk the streets from business to business, asking if anyone needs any printing done. Usually, they don't, or their corporate office handles it, and that corporate office is out of town. I just walk to the next one, after asking, "May I leave you a Zero Dollar Bill?" They usually let me, and I move on.

This afternoon, a lady told me that her boss wasn't in to handle it, and I gave her the Zero. She asked what it was about, and I told her, "It's a Gospel tract: it tells you how to have eternal life."

"Oh, I have that already! I go to Calvary Chapel right up the road."

"Really? So do I!"

"Yeah, my boyfriend died recently--last weekend, actually--so it really is the only thing holding me up. I couldn't do anything but cry."

(Now, this was a considerably older lady, so I don't think there was any sin stuff going on, though you never know: fornication is not unique to my generation. Nevertheless, I didn't think it appropriate to ask.)

We blessed each other as I left, and I thought, "Only God could do this--I think I'm going in to set up for a sale, and He has put me here to comfort one of His saints."

A Night at Checker's

2009-06-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

Fast food is expensive. I've eaten out for the past few days, and I'm so glad I don't normally do that. I pity those who have families and don't have time to just eat at home. Ouch. Because I'm just one person!

But it was worth it to talk Forte. Well, at least, that was the name on his tag. He peeked out the window while I was waiting for my food.

"Man, this is a nice day! This would be a good night to be on the beach with a [immoral young woman willing to do his bidding]."

I smiled, thinking, You have no idea who you are talking to, do you. "Have you ever taken the Good Person Test?"

He was shocked to find out that hatred warrants the same punishment as murder. He was rather insistent that God forgives, but he didn't know why. I asked him how he could be so sure, since Jesus said that we would give an account of every little thing we have ever done. He couldn't tell me. But he absolutely hated the idea of going to Hell.

Here I had to make a choice between softening the blow, or pressing the issue. I chose to press the issue, because I didn't want him to miss the importance of what Jesus did on the cross. I ended up making him angry and he cut off the conversation. I didn't like that outcome, but I didn't see a way around his hard heart. I didn't want him to believe that God would just blink away sin. A sacrifice--the Sacrifice--had to be made, because the price for sin must be paid. Please pray for Forte. And his coworkers. I'll be back. =)

Re: Missions Plea

2009-05-31T16:11:00.001-07:00

On Sat, May 30, 2009 at 9:23 PM, Dyan <dyanc@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:

A PLEA.......... to please make every effort to be at Mission Minded this Tuesday, June 2nd. Yes, you will be so blessed that you came. We have the new prayer requests for June and we will have a special guest, a visiting young missionary serving in Bethlehem! She has an amazing testimony to share and many insights into life in Palestine. Come encourage her with your attendance and bring a friend.

Please also plan to pick up your tickets to Lori Ogle's dessert party on June 6th. Remember that your ticket (or two or three ) will help Lori get on her way to ministry at Calvary Chapel Paris and you will be part of some great raffle prizes and even better, lots of desserts! Please bring some friends to D&D Missionary Homes 7PM - 9PM

4020 58th Ave N.

St. Petersburg

Tickets are $5.00.

See you Tuesday!

Dyan C (Mission Minded Fellowship)

--
Think you're a good person? Prove it at http://www.livingwaters.com/good

Have you ever visited http://www.team-hope.org? No? Well, now's a good time!

Wanna follow me all over the world on the web? Then go to http://witnessingwithjsb2.blogspot.com !

The Weekend (A Summary)

2009-05-27T09:01:00.001-07:00

So much happened this weekend, I don't have time to recount it all.

Baseball tryouts were not a physical success. I tried too hard to run too fast, instead of just running, and it cost me, as my time was worse than ever. I was told by an onlooking coach that my launch is great, but I'm not breathing while I am running and it is causing my entire body to tighten up and slow down. Which would probably explain the pain in my right calf.

I quickly learned that I don't have the requisite fielding skills of a professional infielder: I dropped four out of five groundballs, and none of the throws I made came anywhere close to the first baseman, even though there was a degree of force behind them. I was not setting my feet properly, and I was releasing too quickly. Plus I was nervous, because I'm just not used to throwing that far.

I can coach a lot better than I can play, and I just might do that. But I haven't given up yet. I am looking into a local league to see if I can get on one of their teams.

In the meantime, I was able to witness to several people. I wore my "Jesus Freak" T-Shirt, which appears to have a taped note on the front saying, "Yes, I am a..." and another taped note saying, "Jesus Freak!" on the back, but the note isn't taped, it's screen-printed. =) Most people can't tell that from a distance, so they say, "Hey! Do you know you've got something on the back of your shirt?" or they try to scrape the tape. It's really funny.

Then I lent my bat to a young man who didn't bring one (actually lent it to three, including a young Christian named Ben), and, when he and his girlfriend were just standing around, I asked her if she had taken the Good Person Test. We had already established that she attended church and knew something about Jesus, so I was wondering about the necessity of this venture, but the Lord proved it: once we got into the real conversation, she admitted that she had put her Bible on the shelf. I asked her if she was angry with God, and she said that she was.

She was angry because her ex-husband now had custody of her three-year-old twin boys. She wanted answers, and no pastor, of the eight that she had asked, had given her a satisfactory answer, and only one answer even remotely made sense. Well, her problem was obvious: she was looking to men to answer a question for God, a solution that never works. So I told her that she needed to stop asking men and instead ask God. I don't know if she will, but please pray that she does. I don't have the answer to why her ex got the boys, but God does. She may not like His answer, but I'm sure His answer is better than mine.

On the bus on the way back, I ran into hostility as I tried to reach the man sitting behind me. He admitted breaking God's laws, but was too proud to accept Jesus as the solution. He wanted to stand before God in his own righteousness, even though the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus was freely available. Eventually, he said he didn't want to talk about it anymore. His blood is on his own head.

I went to sleep and woke up with someone sitting next to me. That man was still behind me, but he didn't interrupt our conversation, as I took the young man through the same Good Person Test, and, this time, was able to preach to him the Gospel without the same hostile hindrances as the conversation before. Not only was this young man receptive, the man sitting in front of me was mightily encouraged. Amazing how different experiences can be: same tactic, two different people, two different results.

I had to get off that bus because I needed to use the restroom, but I didn't really lose any time, because the 19 bus was not due for a while. I only know that because the stripper who was sitting on the 52 was also on the 19 when I boarded it about 20 minutes later. I know that she is a stripper because she said so. She was looking for a strip club to work in, and she was very vocal about it. I didn't preach to her directly, because she heard me preach to others. I did preach to the man sitting across from us (I sat on the same bench, but with a space between us), but he was not receptive. I tried to preach to the man who later boarded the bus after the stripper and a man who decided to walk with her to one of the many strip clubs along US 19 had left, but I think the other guy signaled to him not to take the test. Oh well.

As I left the bus, the back of my shirt became visible to the man across from me. The reaction was obvious. I just smiled.

Sunday, after church, there was a young lady standing out by the bus stop holding a sign for a furniture store across the street from Calvary Chapel's corporate worship center (it's a building, not a church). I prayed for her as I went another direction to do something else, but I ended up coming back to the bus stop and witnessing to her. Her name will not be disclosed, but she was raped when she was younger and has been angry with God ever since, saying that God would not allow that to happen if He is really a God of love. I can only say that that isn't true, because God is a God of love--in fact, God is love, according to 1 John 4:8--and He doesn't stop anyone from making bad choices until He gives their last breath.

I gently told her that it was sad that she was the victim of someone else's bad choice, but also that her continuing in sin was a great hindrance to the healing that she could experience from God if she would but ask for it. Then, to make His point, God allowed a wasp to enter the bus shelter, and I drove it away as she panicked because she is allergic to wasps. I told her that God knew that she was allergic and had put me there to chase away the wasp for her sake, so that she could know that God does indeed love her. And she need to seriously think about that.

She didn't argue.

Please pray for her, her "boyfriend" Justin, her former "lover" Haley, and her current best friend Melissa. Yes, I got all of these names from her. After giving her the Good Person Test. Because the purpose of the test is to start a conversation about God and His love. Where it goes from there, depends on the person.

Update re: Aldi

2009-05-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember that I spoke to Saraia at Aldi a few weeks back, gave her a tract, etc.

Well, I have given her many tracts, almost one per trip. One time, I didn't have one, so I said, "Sorry, I don't have anything for you today," and she said, "That's okay," with a small smile which I couldn't read.

Right before the April baseball tryouts, I went in again and I asked her, "If I gave you a book, would you read it?"

"Maybe. What kind of book?" she asked.

"It's a book about people who became Christians."

"Okay. I used to be Christian--that's what I grew up as."

"All right, I'll bring it in next time."

Well, I did bring it in, but she wasn't there. So I made a special trip one day and saw her getting up from the register. I walked right up to her and handed her Stories of Calvary, which is a compilation of twenty testimonies from members of Calvary Chapel St Pete. I had written a message in the front of the book, because she is clearly a homosexual, and I didn't want her to feel unloved. I have never been anything but kind to her in our meetings, and I didn't want to change that.

The message went something like this:

"Saraia, may you come to know the Love of God through Stories of Calvary," and I signed my name.

When I spoke to her yesterday, she said that that was all that she had read in the book. Oh well. It is still in her possession. Please keep praying for her.

And, yes, there are stories of homosexuals who turned to Christ and forsook their former lifestyles. Hey, everyone who becomes a Christian must forsake his present lifestyle, no longer living for himself, but for the One who died for him (2 Corinthians 5:15; Matthew 16:24-26; Luke 14:25-33), so this is not a discriminatory message, but one of redemption from sin. All sin. Including homosexuality, and drug abuse, and heterosexual fornication, and lying, and adultery, and drunkeness, and stealing, and blasphemy, and rebellion, and..., and..., and...the list goes on. Not prejudice, just love.

Thank you for your prayers.

He Started It!

2009-05-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

I was applying for a job at the local movie plex, and a man got in line to get tickets. He struck up the conversation (thanks be to God, because I was so discouraged, I didn't feel like talking):

"So, are we coming back as angels or demons?"

"Neither one: we are going to be recreated as human beings [I should have said, resurrected], and then we will be judged by God for our sins."

"Well, then it sure helps to be a good person."

"Are you one?"

He wasn't sure.

"Have you ever lied?"

"Oh yes."

"What does that make you, if you tell a lie?"

"Well, it depends on the situation. It doesn't necessarily make you a bad person."

"But if I told you a lie, what would you call me?"

"Well, that would depend on the kind of lie you told..."

"But, in general?"

"I would call you a liar." (It's so much easier just to say it the first time!)

"Okay, thank you. Have you ever stolen anything?"

"No."

He was an older man, so I changed the line: "You're not lying to me, are you?"

"No," with a smile.

"Okay, okay. Have you ever hated anyone?"

"I have strongly disliked what other people have done."

"But have you ever cursed at someone, or called somebody mean names?"

"Not that I know of..."

"Okay. Jesus said, 'Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has committed adultery already with her in his heart.' Have you ever looked with lust?"

"Well, I'm sure that in my younger days I did appreciate the beauty of some young woman."

I laughed, "We always try to make it sound better than it looks to God. But that doesn't work, because He is still going to judge us on Judgment Day."

The line was shrinking fast, so I rushed to the finish: "God wants us to admit the seriousness of our sins so that He can have mercy on us. But if we keep trying to make it sound better, then He can't do it."

"But we are all guilty."

"And that's why God sent Jesus to die for our sins."

In the end, he was so happy when I went to the window to return the application, but it's his fault for talking to me. I didn't feel like talking. =)

They Are People, Too

2009-05-17T02:46:00.000-07:00

I'm talking about Jehovah's Witnesses. Usually, a mention of that cult sparks thoughts of hostility among Christians, and I certainly am no exception, but the Lord used Saturday to refocus me on His heart for them.

I arrived at the bus stop way early for my bus, because I didn't know what time the bus left. I think I actually have a schedule for both buses that I could have caught, but the Lord had a reason for allowing me to misplace them. By sitting at the bus terminal behind the Park Place mall, I became the target of the JW Saturday morning canvas. As the young white man approached me, he offered me reading material while I waited. I gently refused, saying that reading Scripture had led me to conclude that Watchtower publications are false. Now, this wasn't my exact phraseology, and, in any case, he was not offended; rather, he tried to persuade me that the Awake magazine was actually all about studying the Bible, noting that it contains Scripture references throughout (which it does).

But I told him that there is a difference between "cherry-picking" (I actually learned that term from an atheist, believe it or not; I have since heard Christians employ it, but that was my first exposure to it) special verses for one's own purpose (something not particularly exclusive to cults) and actually reading a verse, not only in context, but also for its consistency throughout Scripture. Then I asked him, "Have you read the Bible from beginning to end?" He affirmed. "On your own or with guidance?" On his own, he said. I was actually surprised by his answer, and I didn't have any evidence to challenge that notion, and, in any case, reading the Bible from cover to cover doesn't mean that one is saved; it just means that one has less than no excuse (whatever that means).

So instead I asked him, "Who do you think Jesus is?" Jews for Jesus uses this question all the time. I don't actually remember a specific case of using it myself, even when I was with them in 2006. But it was a great opener. I think he was just supposed to distribute the magazines and hop back in the truck with his mentor, but, at the prospect of perhaps persuading someone to reconsider his opinion of Jehovah's Witnesses, he decided to answer.

It was a simple answer, anyway, "Jesus is God's Son."

"Is He supposed to be worshipped."

"The only One who is supposed to be worshipped is God."

"So when Thomas said to Him, 'My Lord and my God,' was he wrong for that?"

"Jesus always pointed people to His Father."

"So what about the man whom Jesus healed who was born blind, and Jesus found him in the Temple after He had healed him, and the man bowed down and worshipped Him (John 9; actually, he wasn't in the Temple: he had just been kicked out of the synagogue)--was Jesus wrong for accepting his worship?"

I also referenced John 14, where Jesus said, "He who has seen me has seen the Father"; but this guy, whose name I failed to get, wasn't budging from his position: "Jesus never took any glory for Himself, He always pointed people to His Father."

Then he tried to blow it off, saying that first that Jesus couldn't control the actions of other people. "No, but He could rebuke them, and He had no problem doing that." Then he said that the question wasn't that big an issue. I was furious: "Yes, it is! It was a death-worthy sin in the Old Testament! Look, you may not want to acknowledge these things because they say that you are wrong, but the truth doesn't change, and, if you ignore the truth, you are only going to hurt yourself." All things that are true. But, boy, was that the wrong track to take!

As I reflected on it later, the Lord reminded me that He had put John's rather candid confession of sin in Revelation (actually two separate incidents of the same act: 19:10; 22:8-9) of bowing down before an angel, and the angel rebuking him, telling him only to worship God; and when Paul and Barnabas had rejected the worship of the Lycaonians in Acts 14:8-18; and Peter raising Cornelius to his feet in Acts 10:25-26 -- the Lord had brought all these things to my mind during our conversation before it got ugly, and I had rejected them in favor of a logical argument. Oops. I guess I was the one with the hard heart.

At least some Scripture was planted, but, next time, I will stick with Scripture. You can't argue with Scripture--you just present it. Then it's no longer how persuasive I can be, but a matter of accepting or rejecting God's Word.

I still continued to witness to others who sat close to me on the bus and at the stop. I transferred to another bus later (I was going to Coquina Key to play flag football, and my usual ride was unavailable), and one of the people we picked up on the way down was reading an Awake magazine. Alarm!

I tried to start the conversation by referring to it, but she was engrossed and probably wasn't paying any attention to anyone trying to speak to her on the bus (there are a lot of people who try to start unseemly conversations or who want to ask for something you can't afford to give them, so I can't blame her), so I just prayed hard for an opening. He actually almost missed the bus.

Jerry is one of the kids from the Rock downtown (the Rock is a center of gathering at South Straub Park in downtown St Pete, where a bunch of drug-addicted, fornicating teenagers hang out with each other to get drunk, high, beat up, and laid; a group from Team Hope usually ministers to them every Friday night, led by Gabe Graham, who is actually planting a church fellowship in that very area). He has openly opposed our Prayer Station set up at Bay Walk, saying that we were getting preferential treatment. Actually, we simply have been exercising our First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and of assembly regularly and on public property; so it's not like Bay Walk has actually endorsed us. In fact, they have actually tried to kick us out of our spot several times, and the police that they tried to enlist against us have had to remind them of the First Amendment.

I wasn't there Friday night, because I had taken my neighbor Dave to The Most Excellent Way. After his bad week, he has been asking about different church events daily. I wasn't able to take him to anything Thursday, because he was my guest and I was going to SENDERS! which is an internally-focused ministry, not one with inherent outreach potential. If it had been any other week, I could have taken him to Men's Accountability, but I wasn't going. But he did want to go to The Most Excellent Way, so I had agreed to take him.

I was worried about what to tell him, since this last week was the last one, so there wouldn't be one for him to go to on a regular basis, but the Lord handled that: he walked out during the singing, saying that he had to go to the restroom, and he didn't come back right away, so I went out to get him, realizing that he hadn't really come in order to get closer to the Lord, and took him home. By the time we got there, Team Hope had already left, so I went to Panera bread to work on some things on Facebook, and got to witness to a bunch of teenage boys instead.

So I had missed having yet another battle with Jerry about his Tarot cards and incense Friday night (he had set up a Tarot card reading across from us two weeks ago and got removed by security, because he really was on Bay Walk property; and he had walked up and down the sidewalk burning incense as a way to sic demons on us last week; of course, I laughed at him, telling him that I had endured many spiritual attacks, and that Jesus was way more powerful than demons; he wasn't too happy about that and didn't agree, but oh well). But here he was getting on my bus! And, if I had caught the other bus, I would have met this bus downtown already after he had gotten off at Williams Park. And, if he had not been so unreasonably hostile, he would not have opened the lady's attention who was reading the Awake magazine. =) God is so good.

She told me that she herself wouldn't just reject someone out of hand who wanted to talk to her about God. She even referred to her receipt of the Watchtower's publications as proof of her accepting spirit. It was the perfect opening. Then another lady got on the bus as it was about to pull away and joined in the conversation, too. She was a pleasant addition as we discussed the Gospel, and I asked her how she knew that God was going to forgive her of her sins. I don't actually remember her answer, but the other lady, the one reading the Watchtower's Awake magazine, said, "He'll forgive you because Jesus died for your sins"!

Yes, that's it!

The second lady made the excuse that she was going to get there eventually with her answer, but I reminded her that the thing we trust in the most is what rolls off our tongues under pressure. She was grateful for that reminder, and I told her that the Bible is so full of reminders, I don't even judge her for needing one (yes, that is a new position for me; it comes from studying Peters epistles, which the Vine is doing on Saturday nights; side note: I told Dave that he could come to the Vine if he wasn't drunk, but he had already had a few before the time that I was supposed to take him, so I didn't). We finished a great conversation within minutes as she arrived at her destination, the first lady having already disembarked.

Now, for everyone who is going to come at me for laughing at Jerry's threat of sending demons after me, please note that this young man has not only been witnessed to every possible way that we can, Isaac actually saved his life one night with his own inhaler when Jerry was having an asthma attack (possibly triggered by that incense?) and the paramedics weren't too kind to him. Raven, his brother who has actually been very forceful in trying to remove us from the Rock, called a truce after that incident, but Jerry has increased his hostility. I was mocking him because I refuse to show fear in the face of a powerless act. The sooner he realizes the impotence of his demons (I know they are more powerful than me, but they are not more powerful than Jesus, and that is the One behind Whom I fight), the better off he will be. He has actually said on several occasions that his demons will one day beat God. So I am not doing any damage to the Gospel in my interactions with him.

Other prayer points: please pray for Tina, one of the young ladies in the Vine. She was hospitalized last week and had two mal-functioning organs removed. She is recovering rather well and was at the Vine last night. Please also pray for the part of the Vine that is preparing for a mission trip to the Domincan Republic: they need finances, unity, and spiritual growth and protection for their journey. And please also pray for the Jews for Jesus Behold Your God Israel campaign that is going on right now. There have been many battles, some won, some lost, some in progress. Go to www.jewsforjesus.org and click on the appropriate links for updates.

Thanks for all your prayers. God bless.

2009-05-14T10:41:00.001-07:00

Now, the final outcome has not yet been written, but the Lord is clearly moving!

I have often asked for prayer for my neighbor Dave. He needs Jesus. But his parents keep bailing him out in hard times. All the while he spends his money on alcohol and his friends buy him dope.

Finally, he hit somewhere near bottom on Tuesday and came over to see me after his girlfriend cheated on him in his trailer and stole his phone hours later. He was finally beginning to see that he has been responsible for getting himself into this mess, and, for once, no one was babying him through the hardship. (I certainly wasn't!)

I let him use my phone to call some people, including his mom and dad. His mom flat out refused to help him at all, and he couldn't get in touch with his dad right away. He actually wanted to see what was going on at church, but I wasn't planning to go to Calvary Chapel that night, there being a prayer meeting in Seminole that I wanted to attend (at the Prayer House, off Park Blvd and 115th St, every Tuesday). So he said he wanted to do that. I said, cool.

But later one of his friends suggested that he go to an AA meeting (AA is inferior to the Bible, but it is a step in the non-drunken direction), so he checked into that and went there instead, but he agreed to go to church with me Wednesday night.

So Wednesday evening, around 6, I tapped on his door and we walked. It wasn't raining at that time, so we were fine. He said that he liked the service (it was practically directed at him!) and one of my friends drove us home so we wouldn't have to walk the mile in the rain. Things were a bit calmer at his place last night, and I was grateful. But I still don't know if he has gotten saved yet. Please continue to pray for him.

Also, I asked you to pray for Dan, who had confessed about month ago or so to doing evil (his words were "stealing") in order to make ends meet. Tom R and I had suggested a different direction for him (Tom a bit more gently than I, but the message got through; I like playing "Good Cop, Bad Cop"--it gives people a real sense of reality and compassion), and he has apparently taken it. I saw him standing out by Park Blvd on US 19 Saturday getting paid to hold a sign directing people to visit some villas. Hot gig, but it pays. And he said that he has other work lined up, too. I keep praying that he frees up some space in his budget by quitting smoking. You could pray that God helps him with that, too. He has two children, including a newborn, and a wife to take care of. I don't know his background, so I don't know why he has such a hard time finding work (though the economy could be playing a big factor in that), but you can pray for him to find a better job, too.

So, thank you for your prayers. They are working.

P.S. Lori Ogle is hosting a dessert social on June 6 @ D&D Missionary Homes, 4020 58th Ave N in St Pete /Lealman, 7-9 PM. The $5-tickets help her with start up costs for moving to France.

Also, Custom Tract Source is having a 15% off sale on all tracts. I have a link to them on the sidebar.

In Other News

2009-05-04T14:47:00.001-07:00

Anyone who has signed up for Team Hope's newsletter or who knows Rick Orr knew about the Volkswagon showcase event that happened this past Saturday. Rick entered his two VW buses from the '60's in order to invade the crowd and get to reach them with the Gospel. He asked for reinforcements, but I didn't plan to go. I didn't think that I would be energized enough after flag football.

Well, it turned out that my ride to football had other plans, and, with my phone being down, the substitute driver wasn't able to get ahold of me to get directions. This meant that my morning was restful, and that I had no excuse for not going to the Pier that afternoon!

So I showed up with my guitar and no tracts only to see Shawn Ostermann there--and he had tracts! I put my guitar down and handed out tracts and engaged those who would stop in conversation.

One guy who accepted a tract did not stop for a conversation but for a rant. His name tag said, "Joe C." and he proceeded to blast us for "canvassing," saying that "some people are beyond the grace of God!"

No, he wasn't a Calvinist, he was a Catholic--or so he said. Last I checked, the Catholic church officially teaches (now, not all Catholics know this) that even the Muslims are under the grace of God, though, if you claim to be a Christian and are not Catholic, you are condemned and God's grace is not extended to you. He said that he had been to every church imaginable and found that the only people who do all this "canvassing" are the wicked people who claim salvation and then try to do something to earn favor with God. I think he was confusing loving Christians who reach out to their fellow man with Jehovah's Witnesses, who do practice their form of street evangelism for the purpose of receiving salvation.

Speaking of whom, the next guy I talked to was one of them. He tried to say that JW's and Christians believe almost the same thing. I didn't let him get away with that: "No, you guys don't believe that Jesus is God."

He asked for proof from the Scriptures, and I gladly gave it to him, point out that Jesus' very Hebrew name demands His deity (Y'shua means "YHWH [or Jehovah] is the Savior"), so that Jesus cannot claim to be Savior without also claiming to be deity at the same time. I also pointed out that Jesus said, "I and My Father are One," "If you have seen Me, then you have seen the Father," and that John had written that Jesus reveals the Father to those who have not seen God (John 1:18).

When he saw that he could not win by going that route, he switched to the argument that Christians approve killing, against the Law of God. It was all that he kept harping on, that Christians were not really following Christ, because we allowed and promoted killing (as in war time). When I pointed out that God had Himself authorized wars, he gave that garbage-can objection that many "Christians" use when they want to escape responsibility for a hard truth: But that was the Old Testament. So I reminded him of Romans 13, but he didn't hear it.

Finally, his wife came back around, and, after a few more words, they just walked away with hardened hearts, convinced that they were right. I was frustrated, because I had hoped to engage them a little better. Ah, the success of labels! If I had quizzed him on his beliefs instead of assuming that he held to every JW doctrine, we might have had a more productive conversation. As it was, we had an argument, which got us nowhere. Better strategy next time.

Then it was on to more tracting, until Carrie and Barb came near. We were perfectly placed across from an eye-catching "short bus," VW-style, and many people commenting on it were very quickly handed a tract. Well, Carrie and Barb seemed far too engaging to just hand a tract to, so I teased them with the Pink and Blue: Which one is bigger?

Thus engaged, we carried on a very un-spiritual conversation that I kept trying hard to get around that corner, but it wasn't working. They and Shawn kept talking about fishing, which was interesting (for me, who doesn't fish) and which also gave us very good rapport. I was willing to keep good rapport as the only experience, knowing that the curved illusion cards that I had just given Barb have the Gospel message written on them, but wanting to establish a seed in their hearts before letting them go. Then the third member of their party walked up (I think her name is Jen, but my memory is fogging up right now; Shawn, if you remember, let me know), and I could understand why the Lord made me wait.

We continued to have a good conversation with her, while the other two got interested in some of the busses (I think they were even looking at Rick's) and then came back. I asked Barb about her background, and we both agreed that living in St Pete, one can say or do many outrageous things and people just accept it. Little did she know that my controversial habit was forthcoming. Immediately.

"Have you ever taken the Good Person Test?" As much as some people may hate the test, it worked to get us talking about spiritual things. It is a tool, not an end. And the conversation was going reasonably well. I mean, no, Carrie was not very keen on the idea about being condemned for telling a lie, but we were being cordial about it and quite pleasant, even though we were disagreeing.

But then Joe came back. Two Sundays ago, (the archive date is April 26, 2009) Pastor Danny talked about how interruptions come just at that crucial, important point in the conversation about the Gospel. He was right.

Honestly, the conversation was taking a nose-dive for a minute, but, with patience and kindness, Shawn and I were pulling it back up. But when Joe stepped up and I made eye-contact with him, he started trashing us for wasting our time on "those people" -- right in front of them!! I tried to save our encounter by pleading, "Why are you saying this about these people? I love them! and Jesus does, too!" But Barb pushed Carrie's arm, "Let's get out of here."

I was furious. Rick had stepped into the conversation about a minute before and was able with Shawn to hold Jen's attention for another couple of minutes while I pulled Joe away, hoping that they would be able to continue what we had started. I blasted Joe, but he justified himself. Then Barb and Carrie came back and pulled Jen away, and now Joe had to justify himself to all three Christians. Well, he tried.

Later I remembered what Paul had done to Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 14 and wished that I had recalled it in time to do so and more also to him, but it must have been the grace of God that I didn't. God does love Joe, too, so please pray for him and the ladies. God bless you.

Rethinking things

2009-05-04T13:36:00.001-07:00

Shortly after leaving Calvary Kids Care, I was tipped off to a job opening by a friend. I did not apply for the job. My reasoning was that it would be dishonest for me to apply for a full time job when I was devoted to entering pro baseball. And I was right. But I made the wrong decision.

Wisdom would have told me that I needed a good deal of seasoning before unleashing my raw talent and love for the game on some poor, unsuspecting scout, and several did try to say the same, but I didn't listen. The result is a bank account going backwards in a bad economy. My integrity is intact, but my decision-making isn't.

Now, some good has come out of it, to be sure, including many divine appointments for evangelism (just had one again this morning when I went to try to get my phone turned on; didn't happen, because of a system changeover, but maybe tomorrow) and some much needed information gathering during the poorly-concocted showcase in Ft Lauderdale. In fact, I am certain that I will make a better showing in the much-cheaper, much-closer one-day tryout that is being held in Clearwater May 23, but I am not going to use it to hang my hat.

Fortunately, May 23 is a Saturday, meaning that if I get a job using my best skills, I probably won't have to take off in order to go. Also, by only using it as a barometer, I can commit to a full-time job.

But that means I still need my phone.

In the meantime, I thank God for all of you who have prayed for me and even given to me over the past year or so since I began this journey of entering cross-cultural missions. That is still my goal. How I get to it, whether baseball or not, is the part of God's plan that is yet unknown to me. Baseball will likely take another year to enter, and, if cross-cultural missions means skipping it, I will. I do love the game, but I did put it on the shelf when I moved here, and I will do it again if necessary.

I do plan to practice and play as opportunities show themselves, not only to get the experience, but also to be available to minister to different people. Matt Vandiver is one reason that I have a hard time regretting going to Ft Lauderdale, even as badly as it has turned out. To go from wondering if I were the only Christian among the 60 there to having a solid, much-encouraged brother on my side, to watch his countenance go from fear of man to courage in God, was -- yes, I know this statement will be controversial -- well worth the nearly $1000 it has cost me (so far). Now I do not plan to repeat this sort of decision making in the future, but I do want to take the time to display the real life decisions that I have to make before those that I have asked to pray for me.

So, go ahead, and think me a fool. But please pray for me that I will become wiser. And thank you for reading this.

Stick in the Mud Tactics

2009-04-13T11:47:00.001-07:00

I think I've said before that I hate the beach. Well, I've been to Ft DeSoto a couple of times recently, and both times, people have looked at me funny because I won't go to the beach. Well, this time, it paid off.

I continued to play some praise songs on my guitar after everyone--and I mean everyone--else had gone to the beach, and a lady brought her children over. She said that they had heard me playing and wanted to get closer. So I gave them a two song concert ("We Are Yours" and "All We Need", both by Charlie Hall) and, when the grandparents came to get them, I said goodbye and gave the mother two Gospel tracts. She actually didn't seem to pleased with receiving them, but, oh well. Why else would they be there? And I didn't have time to talk to them about the Gospel, so...

By the way, Happy belated Resurrection Day to all of you.

Another Divine Appointment

2009-04-09T08:29:00.001-07:00

So I had to go to Calvary Chapel to ask for some assistance (yes, I finally humbled myself) and then I wanted to get a Bible for my neighbor Dave, because he wanted a KJV, so I stopped by Chapel Books after I filled out the paperwork. The Bookstore, however, wasn't open yet--but it was time! And I saw the bookstore manager's vehicle out front, so I knew that she was there. Oh well, I thought. More lessons in patience.

Good think I was thinking that way. A lady from the trailer park behind Calvary Chapel walked up, also intending to go to the Bookstore. I decided to be polite and make small talk. I told her my reason for being there, and she told me hers: to get crosses for her children for Easter. I asked her how old the children were, and two were the same age. Twins?

"No, my boyfriend has two, and I have two. We've been together for so long, they're all mine now!" she said.

Uh-oh. Let's see: crosses for children, which could be idolatry; fornication; not good so far! "Why do you want to get them crosses?"

"So they can have a symbol to remind them that God is always with them." Idolatry confirmed.

"Can't you just read them that verse out of the Bible?"

"Well," she just laughed it off.

I had trouble phrasing my language kindly, but I politely told her that the cross doesn't symbolize the presence of God: it symbolizes the Wrath of God--which He gladly poured out on Jesus rather than on us because of His great love for us (Isaiah 53, John 3:16). I told her, "When Jesus told people to take up their cross and follow Him--He said, 'Anyone who comes after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me--He was saying that we have to die. We have to give up the right to live life our way and surrender to living life His way."

This was news to her. "Obviously I missed something in Sunday school!"

I groaned within me. "Actually, they don't teach it in Sunday school." Truthfully, I don't know that I would have been prepared to confront this subject with her this way if I hadn't been at the Monday night Bible study with Scott Rodriguez, during which we covered this very concept in our study of Matthew 26:1-5. It is something I know in my head, but rarely have I even approached it this way.

I told her about Luke 14, where Jesus told us to count the cost, and about John 16, where Jesus said that we would be hated by everyone, and about the many times that Jesus told us to take up a cross, meaning that we have to die to self and our own desires in order to follow Jesus, and she was stunned and convicted. When I said, "This is real Christianity," she said,

"Then I guess I'm not a real Christian!" and she wasn't being flippant at all. "I guess I'll be getting them 'praying hands' instead of crosses," she said. I don't know what she did, but I did tell the bookstore manager about her. Jan is always ready to minister to someone, so she was in good hands. I also thanked Jan for being late to open the bookstore: if she hadn't been, then I would never have gotten to speak with Ronnie to clarify things for her. Please pray that she receives Christ.

Right after she acknowledged that she's not a real Christian, she started trying to declare her own righteousness: "Well, I don't lie or steal or murder--"

"But have you ever done those things?"

"Well, I did when I was a little girl."

"Well, those things are still on your record. And you've already admitted to me that you are committing fornication-" she nodded, embarrassed, but I had already mentioned the word twice when talking about things that Jesus wants to remove from our lives-" and that's a big 'no-no' with God. So you're in big trouble."

"I guess so." I think she was relieved when the FedEx truck pulled up, but the conviction has only just begun. Her conscience was hard at work, and you could see it on her face. Please pray that she makes the right decision. Thanks for your prayers.

P.S. I may be able to borrow a car to drive to Ft Lauderdale/Coral Springs instead of needing to fly. This will save money all around. One of my friends is working on a place for me to stay instead of the hotel with everyone else. And the church is giving me about $300 to cover most of my rent. I may cancel the cookout for the trailer park, simply because nothing has yet come together for it, but please keep it in prayer, because the week is not over yet. And the appointment yesterday went very well, and I have a promising appointment scheduled for 1:30 PM today, and I can also drop by another place right after that, where the owner sounds very interested.

Funny, when talking to one of my friends on the phone yesterday, he mentioned how he had tried so hard to get his "ducks-in-a-row" but failed and then left everything in God's hands, and God did it all for him--not that he was being lazy, but that he was no longer demanding instant results and only pursuing things that he thought would work right away. It was a good lesson for me, and I think that has been the lesson all along. And patience. I know why I prayed for patience seven years ago, but I guess I forgot to ask how long the curriculum would be. =P

Okay, okay

2009-04-08T08:11:00.001-07:00

Someone asked for an itemized list of what I need (and someone else had already told me to provide it, so...):

1) Rent is $375
2) Plane ticket to and from Ft Lauderdale from St Pete/Tampa--$140 on Southwest, (Need to arrive by 3:30 on Sunday April 19, can't leave until after 5 pm on April 23, and I do want to attend church services on the 19th)
3) Healing for my left knee and my right hand. I fell off my bicycle last Thursday while going up to Men's Accountability, and skinned my knee, which I can't bend or straighten without flinching, and can't run with until the scab goes away, and slammed my right hand--my throwing hand--to the ground in a (successful) attempt to save my face from concrete; the swelling is pinching the nerve for my ring finger and is just all-around uncomfortable.
4) $100 tuition for the tryout camp.
5) Either a friend's place to stay in Ft Lauderdale, or $450 to cover the hotel cost.

I was able to get cleats for $40 -- a steal!--and a glove for $60 (less than I paid for my first glove, four years ago, and, actually, a better glove).

By the way, my neighbor, Dave, came to The Most Excellent Way Bible Study with Scott Rodriguez last night. He told me before going, "I want to get in touch with my spirituality." And Scott will set you straight, too, I thought but did not say as I consented to bring him with me. I don't know what his friends thought of him when he told them over the phone that he would be busy at a Bible study last night, especially since they get drunk and high together. I did tell him afterwards that that sort of behavior was exactly the kind of thing that Jesus would be removing from his life (we had talked about counting the cost as we marched our way through Matthew 26:1-5) as well as his sinful relationship with his girlfriend (where did people get the notion that being "engaged" makes fornication okay?). He was pretty quiet after that. I pray that it was because he was seriously considering the implications of following Jesus with his whole heart.

One positive note about Dave's situation: he does remember a lot things that he learned from his upbringing. Sadly, he has yet to act on it what truth he does know, and a lot of truth got mixed with error. So please continue to pray for him.

Thank you for your interest in my life. God bless you all.

Well, ...

2009-04-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

I honestly don't know what to title this post. See, on the one hand, I want to complain, but on the other hand, I really can't.

You see, I haven't made the money I have wanted to, but I haven't run out of food, and I won't get tossed out on my ear any time soon, even though my rent is late right now. I don't see a way to get to Fort Lauderdale for the baseball tryouts just yet, but the Lord confirmed through Sunday's message that that is what He wants me to do. So then it has become His problem, not mine. And, actually, I've never seen a problem God couldn't handle.

Truly what has been frustrating for me is not something I would normally complain about: divine appointments. You see, everyday I get divine appointments. I met Loretta and her daughter (who goes to the Rock), I handed out about 800 tracts, I have had numerous other God-provided conversations with sinners on their way to Hell, including Mo and an older man this very morning, all in the last week. But I have had no divine appointments that netted me any sales. I have gotten very angry with God, asking, "Why can't you do this for the money I need to pay my rent?" His response? Silence.

I guess this is His way of reminding me of what His priorities really are. I always thought that they were my priorities, too, but this past week has made me reevaluate. I honestly think that this is the hardest trial of my life to date. And yet, today, I have a breakthrough of sorts: I have three appointments for this week, two for one job, one for another (yeah, I picked up a second). It remains to be seen if they close, and what they close for.

But also today, I went into the office of a temp agency to apply. And they have no openings right now. (Ouch) I wasn't the only person there. Discouraged, I was walking back towards my place, and I got frustrated that I was not going to be able to cross the street fast enough to catch the bus to the library. Once traffic cleared and I had resigned to my fate of just walking home to eat, I saw a car flashing it's hazard lights at the intersection of 43rd St and Park. The driver and riders were clearly panicked, so I walked over to see if I could help.

The teens (or early 20s; two scantily-clad women, one guy who seemed like he was dressed for work) said that the car had just quit on them and they didn't know what to do. The driver got out, and I put the car in "Neutral", and then the male passenger and I pushed it through the intersection and into a parking space at the Hess over there. The boy walked away to Sonny's right away, while the girls asked me if I knew why the car did that, but I didn't, because I'm not all that good with cars. I gave them Gospel tracts and walked away as soon as possible to clear my eyes, and I prayed for them. I knew that this was a divine appointment, and I had to force myself to be thankful. Truly, if I hadn't been coming from that direction, if I had not applied at the temp office, if I had not missed the bus, I would not have been there when the car went out, and I could not have handed them the Gospel tracts with the same impact. But I was bummed that the Lord wasn't doing this with the money I need to cover my expenses for this month.

But the day wasn't over, and I landed two more appointments (one for tomorrow was set last week, and I have a "carry back" from two weeks ago). The month isn't over, either, so I'm definitely panicking unnecessarily. And there is other help available--I don't like to avail myself of other help if I don't have to, but I think this is part of God's humbling process in my life. And He knows I need it...

Good News, Bad News

2009-04-01T14:29:00.001-07:00

The good news is that the Lord takes care of me even when I don't prepare for it. The bad news is that He has to do so because my new job isn't working out as well as I had wanted.

I bought a computer so that I could get around better and do my job better, but the nitty-gritty of the job isn't very enjoyable. I just am not comfortable calling people to sell them advertising on what is actually a pretty good website (AllWorldCoupons.com) and getting the run-around or rejected without a word. I had two promising-looking appointments, but neither one came through. My mobility is limited, and I have a sudden lack of boldness to talk to people unexpectedly. Of course I do it for the Gospel--it's essential to eternal life! Advertising...is essential enough to my life that I'd better get better soon! So, pray for me.

What about that good news?

Oh, just that the Lord put it one somebody's heart to put in an application for Angel Food for me. I certainly didn't apply, because I had believed that my new job would cover my necessities. Well, maybe this person put in for me before I got the new job (it did take about a week or two for me to get one), but, in any case, I suddenly was notified yesterday that I had a whole box of food waiting for me at a dear friend's house. She went and got it before I left for the Prayer House in Seminole (prayer, worship, and Communion Tuesdays at 6:30; ask me about more info if you want to come), so I had a big praise report to deliver when I got there.

However, my rent will likely still be late, because the money isn't in the bank and, even if I make a sale this week, I don't get paid for it until next week, meaning that no additional money is available until I am five days into late fees, but it will get paid somehow (eventually). I am struggling with not panicking, because there really aren't many three-week employment options that will allow me to still pursue baseball tryouts April 19th-23rd in Ft. Lauderdale. And I still haven't gotten to practice yet, because the people I had hoped could help me can't right now. I am able to stay in shape because of my bicycle and walking, but my arm may even be weaker than I have already advertised. I really need to get something-somehow-soon.

So, pray for me, please, because God moves mountains with the prayers of His saints. Thanks, and may God bless you.

Oh, and while you're praying for me, please pray for the "pastors of the least" in Nairobi, Kenya, whom Paul Cowley's ministry serves. They don't even have these kinds of job options, so I have no idea what the anxieties are that they feel...everyday. And talk about spiritual warfare! (Just read the archives of Paul's newsletters.)

A P.S. to the last post

2009-03-31T08:54:00.000-07:00

As I was finishing the previous post (and running out of battery life on my new laptop), a young man drove up to the Panera Bread asking for directions. I didn't know what place he was talking about, but Google maps did! So he got out of his car to get directions and noticed that he had taken a completely wrong turn. He was bummed, thinking that he had wasted his time.

I assured him that that wasn't the case and then proceeded to witness to him. When faced with his guilt before God, Flavio told me that he believed in Karma. I simply told him that it doesn't exist:

"It's certainly a comfortable idea, because you get a second chance, and a third, and a fourth, and a fifth, but the Bible says that 'it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the Judgment.' Besides, if you are wrong about Karma, there is no way for you to get back and change things!"

He had to agree with that. We parted ways cordially, and I was amazed at the goodness of God.

I had sat down to watch a chess game, hoping to witness to the two guys who were playing. I intended to take care of some business with my laptop while I watched, but all I was able to do was turn up LaCrae, which one of them clearly enjoyed. Actually, Tom is a Christian. His buddy is not (yet). After his buddy left, I played chess with Tom and we also ministered to Dan, who was mentioned in the last post. When we were finished, I had thought to just pack up and go, but felt compelled to tackle the reasons I had come to Panera in the first place, especially considering that I would not have the next morning free (Tuesday morning, there is a Men's Breakfast held at Calvary Chapel St Pete...at 6:30 AM; I like it=)). This is why I was there at 11-something PM when Flavio drove up.

Flavio even said, "I know that everything happens for a reason." Praise the Lord he sees that much. Pray the Lord that he will put his trust in the Savior and not in some mythological concept. Thanks for your prayers!

My Neighbors

2009-03-31T08:53:00.000-07:00

I have been praying hard for a way to reach my trailer park neighbors since I thought of even moving in here. I'm glad I did.

Dave is a drunkard and dope-addict who lives in the very next trailer. Dan said tonight that Jesus hasn't been keeping His Matthew 6:33 promise, but also admitted to lying and stealing in order to cover his needs, which actions I told him were keeping God from blessing him. Brenda (who is moving out because of a hazardous living space) grew up in religion but didn't know the truth about the Gospel until I explained it to her this afternoon. And Roger said that he believes in God, but he doesn't read his Bible.

Dave actually called me during Perspectives class last night, wanting to "get into some church thing" as he had told me Wednesday morning (though he wasn't home at 6:30 so we could go to the Wednesday night service together). We can invite one guest to each class, so I invited him on up, knowing that he was still unsaved at the time, but hoping that things would not go too wrong. (They didn't.) We walked home together, talking about spiritual things as we went, but not too long. He said that he wants to go to the Vine with me on Saturday. Boy, he's in for it then!

There are other people at the trailer park that I don't know, but to whom I have given some Gospel tracts. In fact, I think that I have tracted the entire group. One guy moved out yesterday, and I didn't know that he was doing so, but I handed him a tract, anyway, and, today, seeing his trailer gone, I'm glad I did. Also, Dave moved into the trailer right beside me after those people had moved out. They were actually the first neighbors I gave tracts to, so I have no regrets there, either.

I honestly want to do something more, but I have a limited budget and no hospitality skills whatsoever. (I need a wife!) I am thinking to start a neighborhood Bible study, but I have nothing that I can do to connect the neighbors, like Doug Dodge does with flag football in Coquina Key. Besides, if I go to play baseball like I plan to, that idea has to wait until at least the fall.

So that's my story. My sister Kirsten needs your prayers. She has been witnessing to two Muslim sisters at her workplace (obviously, not on company time, but as the opportunity presents itself), and she fears for their safety if they should start to show any sign of conversion. Of course, this happens in many foreign countries daily, so this is not a unique situation, just one that hits home a little more closely (even though my sister is 1000 miles away in St Louis). So please pray for her, too. Thank you and God bless.

Let's See How Quickly I Can Write This...

2009-03-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

I have three stories to tell, we'll see how many I can get to:

Josh: I was with my boss at Office Depot, and he was paying for the items we were getting. The telephone number he gave the sales associate had the last four as "6667," to which Josh commented, "Six-six-six, huh?" with a big grin?

Now, that number is known as the "bad number" because the Bible depicts it as such (Revelation 13:18)--but it has no other significance. So I asked Josh, "Josh, are you a Christian?"

"No," he replied. Then he kept talking! "I really don't believe in anything. I mean, I know there's gotta be a higher power somewhere out there, but..."

"So, have you ever taken the Good Person Test?"

Shocked, he said, "No?"

"Okay, it's a three-question test to see if you are a good person: are you ready?"

He proved to be a lying, thieving, murderer-at-heart, just like everyone else I've asked. "Wow. I didn't know that [hating someone makes you a murderer]." I gave him the Gospel right then, that God had become a man to die for him, so that he would not have to face God's wrath for his crimes. Josh didn't seem to want to embrace Jesus all that much right then, but I told him that I really didn't want him to go to Hell, especially since we share the same name. =) (No, that doesn't mean that it's okay if you go to Hell if your name is not Josh!)
My boss actually learned something new and got convicted himself. It was pretty cool.

Later, we were on a sales call and waiting for our potential client, who was taking care of customers. While one guy was waiting, I engaged him about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers T-shirt he was wearing: "Are you wearing that shirt because you're a real fan, or just because you want to be safe?"

He laughed. "Oh, no, I'm a real fan."

We small-talked about the Bucs for a few minutes, with my boss chiming in, too. I don't think he knew that I was setting the guy up, though. "So how long have you lived in Tampa?" All his life. "Where did you grow up?" Clearwater. "So have you ever taken the Good Person Test?" He hadn't. So I gave it to him. =) He, too, was surprised that those who hate are called murderers. And that this was in the Bible.

Then she called him over to take care of business (a hair salon--she's a real pro, too! But I'll still cut my own. =D), so I didn't get to give him the Gospel. But, as he left, he asked how many people had actually gotten the correct answer to the last question ("What does it make you if you hate someone?" -- A murderer, as opposed to the "ghetto answer," a "hater"): "Twenty-six," I believe is still the correct answer, from St. Louis Metro Area, Buffalo-Niagara Falls Area, Tampa Bay, Phoenix, Miami, Kansas City, Denton, Jacksonville, and the Bahamas. He was surprised. I told him, "But that's because people don't really read their Bibles," and he had to really consider that.

Last one:

I was with a friend in Walgreens, and one of the employees there used Jesus' name to curse. I said, more to Renaldo than to her, "You love Jesus?" He laughed as we considered the irony of the fact that people don't use Hitler's name as a substitute for a four-letter filth word, but they do use the name of the Lord of Glory. Our conversation continued to the check-out counter where Chris waited on us and added his two cents. As we talked about people and their double standards, he brought up how people didn't stop talking about Bill Clinton's adulteries. I pointed out that the former President needed to be far more concerned with God's Judgment than with ours.

Then I asked Chris how he himself would do on Judgment Day. We talked about Judgment Day, right living, how it doesn't save us because our record is already corrupted. We also talked about the Holy Spirit, how God imparts Himself to us to help us overcome the sin that overwhelms us, how Jesus died to save us from the penalty of, sin, too. When we finished Chris said that I had made his night. It was awesome. I challenged him to ask God to help him against sin, as he had said earlier that if God would indeed impart Himself to help us out with sin, he would take Him up on the offer.

That's all for now, thank you for your prayers.

Sorry, this is a long one...

2009-03-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

But, what else is new?

Okay. Many people have asked me about what happened with Calvary Kids Care, and I just want to clarify: I have no ill will towards anyone at CKC, including my (now former) boss. This was, by far, the kindest termination I have ever faced, and, as much as I disagreed with the decision, I can't help but see God's hand in it all. Truthfully, I probably should have quit, but I never like to back out of something I believe in, even when my contribution is shaky. I always think that I can get better and that I can overcome anything, but I think the Lord saw something else and moved me on. I still love everyone at CKC and wish them all the best. And I will always keep CKC in my prayers, and I want you to keep them in yours, because it is a ministry, and they do need all the Holy Help they can get.

So what has happened since then? Well, I have gotten a job, but I have set my sights on something else (with my new boss's knowledge): professional baseball.

For many of you, this will be a shock, because most of you had no idea I love the game, let alone that I can actually play. Yes, pro is a challenge, but major leagues and professional aren't identical. Many people whose skill is not sufficient to play on the major league level still make a decent income playing a game.

Why would I want to do that? Because it gives me travel, income, and evangelism opportunities. I have to go to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the five-day tryout in April (19-23). And I don't know what teams will be represented there, nor where they will be based. The organization that set this up has connections with teams all over the country (yes, including major league teams), so it is likely that I will no longer be home (in St Petersburg) often enough to continue my commitments here after April. Of course, there is the possiblity that no one will sign me, and I'll be right back here, and I am okay with that.

Some of you are still stuck on the phrase "new boss," from three paragraphs ago. Yes, I have a new job, as advertising specialist with allworldcoupons.com. I start tomorrow. It is a commission-only sales job, but, like I said in one of my other emails, I have enough money in hand to get all the way through April, so, even if I hit a rough patch with this, I'm still okay.

How did I get all this money while losing my job? Well, the Lord made sure that I could not file my taxes before the Friday after I got fired. Then He gave me two odd jobs that following Monday. Then someone came Wednesday into my Wednesday night first-graders' class and handed me $100 plus a wonderfully delicious apple-bread loaf that her neighbor had made. And I have a pay-check coming in for that week that I was fired, because my boss graciously let me finish out the week, though she gave me notice on Tuesday.

During all this time, the Lord has kept my eyes open for evangelism opportunities, keeping tracts in my hands, or shirts on my back when tracts wouldn't do, and some of those opportunities have been some real humdingers!

Saturday night, I was reluctant to go to BJ's Brewhouse with the guys and gals from the Vine, for many reasons, but the Lord overruled me by having JT drive me, and really opened a door I wasn't expecting.

I was wearing my "Jesus For Jews" polo that I got two-and-a-half years ago while volunteering with Jews For Jesus in NYC. Well, one of the waitresses came up and asked me if she could ask me a weird question: "May I take a picture of the back of your shirt?"

Of course I didn't mind.

"Our kitchen manager is Jewish, and we are always teasing him about it."

Hmm...not the best "in" but God can use it. I told her, "Hey, if tell him that he can find me at Calvary Chapel." She said she would.

I don't know how many people look at a Christian T-shirt, but I know that I do pay a lot of attention to people's T-shirts, though my reason is so that I can use it to start an evangelistic conversation. For that reason, and the above real-life example, I try to wear shirts that do proclaim the Gospel message. But God does have other tools that He gives me.

Two Sundays ago, I had to go to the grocery store, and the cashier yawned. I commented that she should get some more sleep, and she said something about "All that partying."

Now, when someone says that about me, I know that they are joking, likely taking a shot at me because I really don't go to parties, but when a woman with a boyish haircut says it, I take notice. I was just going to walk out (because my transaction was finished), but I turned around instead and gave her a Gospel tract, saying, "Here: this is for you." She took it, and I left.

The next Sunday, I was back, and she was there, too. I asked her if she could take a large bill, and she affirmed, so I gave her one. She started to enter the numbers, $1,000,000,000, and stopped and could not help but laugh. I told her she could keep it, and I gave her exact change, which I somehow had in my wallet. I haven't seen her after that day, but her name is Saraia (Si-RAY-ah), so you can pray for her.

Also, a while back, I think I told you about the Muslim guy Ali I had witnessed to who runs a Citgo on US 19 (the one right down the road from Calvary Chapel's meeting place, not too far from Wal-Mart). I think about him and lift a quick prayer for him every time I pass it. I went to get a Gatorade this past Wednesday (I was walking a lot, and it was very hot), and he was there. He asked me for my phone number so he could set an appointment with me to talk about Islam vs. Christianity again. Well, praise the Lord. I have yet to hear from him, but please pray that he does call and that we will have a fruitful conversation.

This incident meant that the book we got during the Perspectives class from Don Richardson The Secrets of the Koran was now required reading. The Lord having removed other responsibilities from me (i.e., CKC) I had all of Friday to read it, and I did. Wow.

Some of you remember how Don Richardson had spoken of how God had planted "redemptive analogies" in every indigenous culture of the world (the Chinese "lamb over me" design for the word meaning "righteousness"; the Sawi's "peace child," whereby a man would give his son to his enemy, who would accept the son and thereby agree never to harm the family who gave him up or their friends/associates/fellow villagers, and thus end all hostilities; etc.) so that the Gospel would make perfect sense to the hearers. Well, Satan made sure that Islam--which is not an indigenous religion--has no such analogies, making the Gospel unreasonable to a Muslim mind. Well, now you know why I am praying for Divine Wisdom on how to approach Ali.

I do know that Muslims consider Jesus to be a prophet, but don't believe His claim to be the Son of God. I have already discussed with Ali that the god of Islam (Allah) can't be the God of Christianity (or Judaism), because the Latter has a Son, and the former does not. Neither does the Latter break any of His promises, but the former issues no assurance whatsoever. May these truths sink deeply into Ali's heart as he seeks to convert me to Islam, and as I seek to show him Jesus in truth. God bless you, and thank you for your prayers.

I wasn't going to...but...

2009-03-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

I wasn't going to go to Buka Harris' party Saturday night, but the Lord wanted me to get reacquainted with some friends I hadn't seen since the summer.

I wasn't going to play "Capture the Flag" when I got there, because I was still sore from flag football earlier in the day, but the Lord wanted me to hand out some Gospel tracts while "guarding" the flag (and we had a great time, too).

I wasn't going to play baseball with the youth the next day, because I had the Perspectives class at night, but I, not only had a great time, I got to hand out more tracts.

I wasn't going to go to 7-Eleven after the game, but the Lord wanted me to witness to Adam and his coworker.

I wasn't going to go to Perspectives afterwards, because I was so tired, but the Lord wanted me to meet Dave Howard, former roommate of Jim Elliott--and brother of Elisabeth Elliott, who met Jim through him. (He also told me a great story about Jim!)

Just goes to show how God has great things in store for us if we will simply clear our agendas. God bless your adventures today.

=)

Well, that didn't work...

2009-03-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

You know, the Lord seems to be against routine. At least for my life.

And definitely against comfort.

See, I moved to within one mile of my church's building because I had a job there and I ride a bicycle. Eight miles one way is a long way to ride, even with so kind a host family as the Millers. So I was looking forward to having an easier commute, though I was a little concerned that I would not have as many opportunities for evangelism encounters--which did turn out to be the case.

If you have noticed, I have not sent an email for almost two weeks. Guess why?

Ultimately, I think that is why the Lord had me canned at Calvary Kids Care. Of course, the earthly reasons aren't as rosy, but they are irrelevant. I know that God is up to something, because He always has been with me.

So, what am I going to do? File my taxes and look for work. Financially, I'm set for at least a month, if I don't find anything, but I don't want that to happen. I'm really reevaluating everything I'm doing right now to see if the Lord wants me to change anything. I'll update you when I know more.

I Thank God for all of you and all your prayers.

Ray Comfort Offers an Atheist $10,000

2009-02-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

It's not the first time that Mr. Comfort has offered $10,000--but the first offer was to anyone who could prove to be a good person by God's standards. Needless to say, no money even need be in the bank for that one.

But this time is different: World News Daily has the story.

I love it. =)

Sorry, this is not an adventure of mine, but, hey, it is my blog. =D

Too Much Complaining

2009-02-18T11:14:00.001-08:00

I don't like being late (this is news to people back in St Louis), so I'm always in a hurry in the morning to get to work on time. This usually means that I don't get many opportunities to talk to people. Then, if I get a ride home, as opposed to catching the bus or biking again, I don't get a chance to talk to anyone who isn't saved. This was the source of my complaint to God that I didn't get any good adventures in the morning, just passing out tracts and riding up US 19 (which, admittedly, is an adventure in itself, but not too hair-raising).

Well, I was running behind this morning, but I knew from experience that the Lord wasn't going to just let me speed through, so, rather than keep changing gears to full speed and have to stop on a dime to give out another tract, I just pedaled as quickly as possible in gear 4, which is easier than, but not as fast as, gear 7. I figured that I still might make it on time.

I did have to stop going down that bridge that starts at 38th Ave N in order to hand tracts to two guys coming up. One of them said, "I don't know if we wanna do this [Jesus thing] the way we are right now."

I had no idea what he meant by that, but I responded, "That's why I gave it to you," meaning that whatever sin he was enjoying right now was the very reason I was bringing Christ to his attention. Then I saw a young lady walking below the bridge, and, feeling the command from the Lord, I circled once I got to the bottom, gave her a tract, and then moved on.

I stopped at the Sunoco at 58th Ave to give on man a tract, and, when I had turned from him, my light was red, so I went back into the lot to tract a lady who was by the air pump. But then I realized that she had a blown tire.

"Need some help?" I asked.

"Yes, please," came the reply. As I tried to remove the tire, I called my boss to say that I would be late. I only had seven minutes, and I wasn't going to make that, even if I tried; but this delay here would also cost me.

The lady apologized for making me late. I told her that I was going to be late anyway. And, in any case, Jesus had told me to stop and help her, so it was His problem (as if it were a problem to Him--HA!).

I told her that I had started to go on after handing that guy a tract but had turned around to give her one, too, before realizing that she actually needed more than that!

Turns out it was her mothers car, and her mother is elderly. She was just going to wash the windows on her mother's car, but the tire blew only a couple minutes before I had come up. She didn't know how to change the tire, so I showed up. I told her that this was how Jesus was showing His love to her mother, because He knew about the tire, and He didn't want her to be in it when it blew; so He had her daughter, this lady, drive it this morning instead, and (I didn't cover this part with her) He sent her to a gas station that I ride by every day in order to make sure that she had the help that she needed. This was important to her, because her mother (and she herself) have lost several family members to death, that invincible enemy of all mankind, in this past year. So knowing that God loves them was really a necessary message.

I further spoke of how sin was the underlying cause of death, Adam's sin, our sin, or others sinning against us (like murder), and how Jesus, the only Perfect Man, had come down from the throne of God to live the perfect life and thereby give us victory over sin and death. And now He freely offers to all of us the abundant life--the life that overcomes both sin in this life and death in the next.

I owed the Lord a huge apology for trying to run ahead of Him when He was deliberately trying to make me late for work this morning. He was keeping His appointment with that family just in the nick of time.

COPS in St Pete

2009-02-13T19:02:00.001-08:00

I had decided Wednesday night to ride my bicycle all the way home and to pass out Gospel tracts along the way to the seedy businesses that line US 19. (So, if you saw my bicycle outside that strip joint, you now know why; and, no, I didn't go in: there was a patron right outside the door--an older woman, no less...ridiculous.)

As I approached the light at Fifth Avenue, I saw this man running--sprinting, full speed ahead--across the street. At first, I thought that he was just showing off or trying to make sure he didn't get hit or both. He did slow down to a walk once he got across, after a few steps, but then he sped back up again. Obviously, on a bike I am going much faster than he, but I wasn't able to make up that kind of ground. But he wasn't that far in front of me when I stopped at the same motel that he had.

The Sandman Motel apparently has a reputation, but I had no idea until this night.

The man said something to someone in the first room (101) and then ran inside the second (102). The door closed at 101 before I got around the corner, so I didn't see anyone out there, but there was a lady standing outside 103, so I gave her a tract and then went to put one in the key drop box. As I did that, the door to 101 opened and a half-dressed lady came roaring out with a metal baseball bat in her hand shouting, "Call the cops!" and she was looking at me!

Suddenly, the man from 102 called out, "Call the cops! She's been raped!"

On my way down US 19, I had stopped at 17th Ave to give a tract to a guy walking his dog (actually, walking his dog to pick up his girlfriend who works at the Publix there, but I didn't see that until later) and saw a lady standing outside Latifah's house and asked her about Latifah. Billie stays there because Latifah's son is the father of her child (and Latifah's son is in jail right now, so pray for that, too; I think his name is Deon, but I could be wrong). After I had given her the "Name Ten Beers" Gospel tract (she said that she could not only name ten, she had eight in her refridgerator at that moment) and we had talked about how Jesus has the power to deliver from any sin, she told me to be careful riding home, because this was a dangerous part of town. I almost flippantly said, "I'm not worried, I've got Jesus"--which is (obviously) true for me, but it isn't so true for others, including Sunshine (not her real name).

(We are back at the Sandman Motel) I have no idea what this poor woman was doing, but her brother was telling her that when the cops got there, she needed to tell them everything, the whole truth, no matter what. I was reeling. I actually called the cops myself, because the manager of the property (the bat-wielding, half-dressed, half-crazy woman who started to kill me) didn't have her phone in hand. (Yes, I did give her a Gospel tract; it helped to exonerate me in her mind, which needed peace, because she had had two customers robbed that day.)

As the cops responded, there was a silver car that came up to the intersection, and then backed up into the parking lot as the police cruisers pulled in. Suddenly, the car jumped the curb and peeled out onto US 19 at a very high speed. You thinking what I'm thinking?

Not likely, because you probably thought that that was "the guy," whereas I've watched Cops, the tv show, often enough to know that often criminals run--whom the cops aren't chasing--simply because of that guilty conscience (the same one that makes me cringe when I see certain people). And I was right (for once). Or, at least, that what the girl told the cops who got there too late to get in on the chase. Ha, the two cars from whom he fled were right on him, then three more came flying by with lights and sirens a-going. It was crazy. Paramedics were responding, too, but only to our situation (the guy hadn't crashed...at least, not yet, though they often do).

I ended up standing there for about 30 minutes, because the manager had taken my phone into the girl's room so that she could talk to the dispatcher herself. The manager kept trying to get the paramedics and cops to give me my phone, but I stopped her each time, because I knew that they didn't want to be interrupted (I knew that watching Cops was a good idea!) and, anyway, I wasn't in a hurry. I got my phone back when the brother suddenly remembered right before he and his sister hopped in the Ambulance.

You never know what kind of pain you will meet on the streets, I must say. I remember a 15-year-old girl at the Rock downtown walking away from me, upset that I had said that any sex outside marriage was wrong, when, in fact, she had been raped. I didn't know that, at the time, so I had said what I said rather insensitively. Seeing Sunshine crying the way she was helped me to understand Jessica's situation a little better.

I did continue to pass out tracts as I continued on home, but I was definitely rattled for the rest of the night. I think I'm still rattled.

Unnerving

2009-02-10T16:09:00.000-08:00

I haven't had a lot of good conversations lately, which is why I haven't created a lot of posts, but I have been handing out a lot of tracts, which is my forte. When they ask what it is, I just tell them, "It's a Gospel tract: it tells you how to have eternal life," and most of them usually take it, though most take it without asking. I have had people say, "Well, no, I don't want that," but my feelings get ignored (oh, they do hurt) as I focus on the fact that they are not rejecting me but the Message.

But Saturday I did have a good conversation with a waitress at Bob Evan's (my first time there; also Jason's first time, who was with me; it was pretty good, I must say). Morgan is not a "chit-chat" type waitress; she isn't rude, but she is all business. But I was determined to reach her, because I have a rule that I witness to every waitress I get--then I leave them a good tip, too. Yes, that is kind of tough on a missionary budget, but the Gospel MUST go forth! Plus, if you said the things that I said to her, you would definitely want to leave a good tip.

I stopped her by asking if she had a minute (sometimes servers don't, because they have so many tables, so I always ask). She did, so I gave her the Good Person Test. After we had discovered that she was a liar, thief (she got the Steelers joke), and murderer (she gave the ghetto answer "hater"), she asked how many checks we wanted and walked away. I wasn't sure if she was offended or just concerned that we might have to run. I turned to Jason and said, "She left before I could give her the Good News!"

When she came back, he told her, "Hey, you left before he could give you the Good News."

"Oh," she replied, "I thought that that was all there was to it."

"Well, that would be pretty depressing," I answered, "walking around saying to yourself, 'I'm a liar, thief, and murderer, I'm a liar, thief, and murderer, I'm a liar, thief, and murderer.' Plus, what are you going to do about Judgment Day? What do you think would happen if you stood before God on Judgment Day and said, 'I'm a liar, thief, and murderer'--what would He do with you?"

"I don't know," she said.

"Well, think of it this way: would He find you innocent or guilty of breaking God's law?"

"Guilty."

"And what does God do with guilty people on Judgment Day?"

"He sends them to Hell."

"So what does that say for you?"

"I'm going to Hell."

"Do you like that idea?"

"No!"

"Good, that's why I wanted to give you the Good News."

When I gave her the Gospel (including that we must let go of sin to take hold of Jesus--not perfection, just repentance), she said that she had already prayed to receive Christ, so I challenged her: "When was the last time you read your Bible?"

When she said, "Um..." I knew it was going to be the wrong answer. "It's been a while."

"Well, now, Jesus said, 'IF you continue in My Word, THEN you are My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free,' and He means free from sin, which He explains in the verses that follow [John 8:30-36]. So, if you want to be free from sin, Psalm 119:11 says, 'I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.'" She nodded in affirmation as she walked away with our plates.

Pray for that girl. I don't think she received that well. But then I don't know. Jason noted that her piercings indicate that she may be a party lover, and that her conscience may have been bothering her a bit. I didn't pay much attention to her piercings, because I see them all the time at the Rock downtown (South Straub Park in downtown St Pete, where there is a big fake plastic rock where the drug addict, fornicating high schoolers hang out, usually dressed in black; and, no, I'm not judging them, you can ask them yourselves what they do--they are not ashamed of it [yet]).

Oh well, at least she knows that I didn't leave that big tip because I wanted to flirt with her.

God bless you guys, and thanks for your prayers.

P.S. This month, many towns are holding Mardi Gras celebrations. Plenty of people to witness to about departing from sin to serve the Risen Savior! Take advantage of the parties that Satan throws to gather sinners to be witnessed to! God bless you, and let me know how it goes!

Blessings!

2009-02-06T15:32:00.001-08:00

Well, well, well!

The Body of Christ really does take care of Her members!

I am planning to move, and I need to do some cleaning (well, lots of cleaning) and some pre-stocking before I can do so. I mentioned this at my Men's Accountability group and immediately got an offer of help from one of the ministry leaders for the clean-up part. Then I got back to where I am staying (in the home of a family who already agreed to take me in for a month for free) and they were arranging help for me to have all that I need once I do move in, through another ministry.

This is after the Lord had someone pay for me to attend the upcoming Love and Respect Marriage Conference (which Pastor Danny recommended for singles who want to get married), on top of someone offering to buy a bus pass for me this month (which I won't need once I move this weekend, but hey), on top of me getting an easier position with more hours at work, on top of me attending Winter Jam (which was paid for by others), on top of ... where does it end?

I have never felt so loved in my life as when I moved here to St Pete. So many times in my life, I have tried to be self-sufficient, doing everything myself, never telling a soul when I needed anything (except the Lord), and being here has shown me that that is not the way to go. From the time I moved here, I have relied on so many willing shoulders that have carried me through many trying times. Gabe Graham took me in for three days, Zack and Heather Hill were the kindest landlords I could ever have asked for, my boss in the maintenance department the best supervisor I have ever worked for, Calvary Chapel the best coworkers I could ever pray for, Calvary Chapel the best supporters (in finances and prayer) as a body that I have ever met (there are individual friends who amazed me who don't attend Calvary), and now I can firmly say, Calvary Chapel St Pete, the best church home that I could envision.

I thank God for all of you! (even if you don't go to Calvary Chapel St Pete)

Sincerely in Christ,

Joshua S Black

Sacrifices

2009-02-04T05:38:00.000-08:00

I'm used to making sacrifices; it's part of being an adult, it's part of the Christian walk. But something just get on my nerves.

Volunteering to teach children on Wednesday evenings means that I miss out on the great Wednesday night worship services at Calvary Chapel St Pete. It is a sacrifice for me. But it's not that annoying.

Making Team Hope a priority means missing out on whatever good things may happen on Friday nights. It is a sacrifice, but it's actually not annoying at all.

Attending the class "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" means that I miss out on Doug Dodge's Sunday evening services in Coquina Key (at the clubhouse) is another annoying sacrifice, but it doesn't last forever, either, and it is supposed to help me obey my calling.

But missing every one of this past weekend's services to do the Super Bowl Outreach was bothering me even as I did it and became even more annoying when I found out that I had to miss Gen Falleur's singing, too.

I had already missed Andy's Wednesday night teaching, but I consoled myself with attending the panel he and two other pastors gave on church-planting. Plus, Andy (and Gen) were speaking at Mission Minded Fellowship last night. But when I heard that Gen had sung during the services over the weekend, I hit the table with both hands in frustration. Andy and Gen live in Ottawa, Canada, so, if I ever want to hear them live, I'm going to have to go there to do it (hmm...that's an idea...Lord?)

You know, I really can't wait to get to Heaven: no more evangelism! Then I won't miss out on all the wonderful things that go on when God's people gather in corporate worship!

True, evangelism is my life's blood, but it does mean that I miss out on a lot of things. And yet, my friend John Natoli once said, "The definition of sacrifice is giving up a good thing for a better one." Now, I had agreed with that when he had said it, but now I know how true it is.

Even Gen said that I had my priorities straight, and that wasn't "polite self-abnegation," either. And I really can't complain that I spent between 15 and 18 hours of my weekend doing evangelism-related activities. It was a lot of fun, and I got to do an open-air interaction with a woman (on microphone, even!) that I was so happy about (I need to ask for the video, it was good!) that I would even rate it as my best time on a soap box (well, it was a milk-crate, but ...details...).

I also got to talk to Tom about his life. He threw away the Gospel tract that I had given him (I don't think he knew that I was looking right at him) after reading most of it, and then he handed another tract back to one of my friends. He kept standing there, though, so I walked up and started talking to him. When I asked if he had a Christian background, he said that he was raised Catholic (don't anybody start with me over what he says about the Catholic church, either!) and that his wife was forced to be Lutheran (we didn't cover that so much, because his wife wasn't there), so they had decided to expose their son to everything and let him decide (recipe for disaster, but I couldn't warn him about that if he wasn't convinced that the Bible is truth, anyway).

Actually, Tom was the only one to talk about the Catholic church, because I didn't try to defend or destroy it (the church isn't the Gospel). Instead, I focused on him and God. He said that there were so many different religions that his philosophy was, "Pick on you like, and enjoy." I asked him about the people who had put their faith in the Titanic: where did it get them? Was it possible that simply "having faith" was not enough? What if that faith was in the wrong god? It made him think.

When I asked him what his favorite sin was, he couldn't tell me. So I gave him one of the ones that held me tight, pornography. Just as I was about to say it, the Lord seemed to tell me that it was his. And, as soon as I said it, he admitted to it, too. Now that was just plain scary! (It has happened like that before, but it still unnerves me everytime!)

I told him about repentance and how painful Jesus said it might be to get rid of sin but how it is so worth it (Matthew 5:29-20; Mark 9:43-48). I don't know if he will repent or not. I don't know if Keisha will repent or not (the lady on the mic). I do know that I was definitely where I was supposed to be, but I can't be in two places at once. Oh, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Sickly

2009-01-27T06:13:00.001-08:00

That's how I was feeling all of yesterday, and actually since Friday. I don't know how I made it through Team Hope Friday evening, I was not playing well during flag football Saturday, Lana made me cancel everything I was planning to do after church Sunday (thanks, Lana), and I ended up calling in sick to work on Sunday. I could barely even speak.

But I felt much better Monday evening, having gotten much rest, so I did go ahead with the Bible study I had been asked to lead, and it went well. But, riding the bus home, I didn't think my voice would let me witness to anyone, and, as usual, I had run out of tracts (forgot to take some home with me after Team Hope). The Lord was faithful and let me pipe up just enough to witness to several people on the 52 southbound.

I didn't get their names, but I ran two of them through the Good Person Test (one was off the bus smoking during the layover at the Shoppes at Park Place), and the third was a drinking Vietnam veteran who tried to say that one could have faith in God without reading His Word. No, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). I had to repeat this over and over again, because he would not accept it.

The reason was that he felt that God was always answering his prayers, that life was going just fine for him...which is why he had a bottle in his hand? It's one thing to have an occasional drink. It's quite another to be trying to hide from the bus driver that you are imbibing alcohol on his bus, when you are clearly already drunk. The Bible may not say that it is a sin to drink, but it makes it very clear that it is a sin to get drunk (Proverbs is full of admonitions: 20:1 to start). So I challenged him about it. But he insisted that Heaven's ears were open to his prayers. I didn't go down the road of telling him that the devil answers prayers, too, because I wanted to stay focused on Jesus. So I just told him,

"This thing I know: Jesus said, 'Except you repent, you will all likewise perish.' You can't hold on to sin and hold on to Jesus at the same time." To which the first guy I tested agreed (he seemed to be a Christian, but certainly not well versed in the Word; the second guy wasn't talking to me anymore: oh well). "Jesus also said, 'What shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and yet lose his own soul?' So, no matter how well your life is going here, if you don't have eternal life, your religion is worthless." To which both he and that first man agreed.

As the bus neared my stop, I warned the drunk guy not to play with his eternity, noting that his life could end any day, especially the way he was treating his liver. He wasn't mad at me, either.

All this with a voice barely above a whisper. The Lord works mighty things through the weakest of vessels. I can testify to that!

P.S.

Patmos Five is in full swing. Please pray for the students as they continue to get the culture-shock of culture shocks this week. Please pray for the staff and interns as they administer it. Ah, I don't miss those days.

Oh, and tonight Brett Robinson, Andy Falluer, and Dave Vollmer are going to speak on the subject of Church Planting at 7 PM. If you are remotely interested in how churches get started, and you live somewhere near Pinellas County, Florida, you don't want to miss this. I won't. (And I'm not missing work today, either!)

And don't forget the Love and Respect Marriage Conference on Feb. 13-14. Pastor Danny's encouragement to singles to attend (for only $20) certainly changed my mind on the option. Please pray for everyone in attendance, especially if you are going.

Last commercial: The Super Bowl Outreach is coming to town. Team Hope is still working out details of how to join forces with them. I will let you know when I know for sure.

Prayer

2009-01-23T04:29:00.000-08:00

As I boarded the bus to get home last night, the prospects for a conversation with someone about Jesus looked very slim. Everyone was either clearly isolating or listening to music (which I guess is also clearly isolating, but the others made it clear by their body language). So I prayed for someone to talk to who would respond loudly enough so that others would hear and be impacted by our conversation.

But, as the bus pulled away, no one else boarded the bus. I said in my heart, "Oh well, I guess it's not going to happen." But God...

Julian was only able to flag down the bus because he had previously warned the driver of the errand he had to run, because the buses are not supposed to stop for people after leaving the platform. He, too, was riding a bicycle, which fact brought a smile to my face. I had the answer to my prayer, and he would certainly understand my plight as a fellow cyclist in this cooler weather (Florida doesn't really get "cold," just too cool for my comfort at times).

Searching for an opening, I commented, "You must be a bachelor, drinking soda like that," referring to the two-thirds empty bottle of root beer that he had with him.

He smiled and acknowledged as he pulled out his iPod.

Not gonna lose this one, I thought, and said, "Hey, before you tun that thing on, I have a question for you: have you ever taken the good person test?"

He hadn't, so I gave it to him, and he, like me, proved to be a liar, thief, and murderer, by God's Standard. I gave him the Good News, and, in an unusual move for me, I told him plainly that his time was running out and that he needed to repent soon. To my surprise, he told me that I was the second person that very night that had called him to repentance. As we continued talking even after our bus ride (we had the same stop and rode our bikes together for three blocks), I found that the Lord had really been preparing him, sending him to a local church in Gulfport, and having him read John's record of Lazarus death and resurrection in chapter 11. In fact, I was able to use that to point him more to the Word.

He already knew that Lazarus is only mentioned twice in the Bible, the story Jesus told in Luke 16 (was it a parable? Jesus didn't name names in parables) and the aforementioned account in John 11. Jesus made an interesting point in Luke 16: "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced [to repent] even if someone rises from the dead" (verse 31, NIV). I then referred to the fact that the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, but they still refused to believe on Him and repent. Point being that one doesn't need a big miracle to know who Jesus is, just the Word. Because he was already a bit into the Word, I was able to say that the Book of John is possibly the best place to start, because it reveals Jesus as the Son of God.

I gave him my just-bought Bible, because he said that he couldn't understand the one he had without a dictionary, and I didn't want him using that as an excuse not to pick up a Bible. I did give him my phone number, because he wanted to keep in touch. My hands were very cold as I walked into the house, but I was very glad to have foregone a ride home from church. I don't think I want to do that very often, but this time, it was definitely worth it.

Got Rejection?

2009-01-20T08:59:00.001-08:00

"Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:13)

So I should be really happy about Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

I rode my bike down US 19's sidewalk (no, I don't ride in the street on that road!) to go pay a bill, and the Lord had put it on my heart to stop by everyone I could (walking, waiting, or riding a bicyle) and give them a tract. Well, one guy I gave it to at a bus stop threw it down when I started reading it (upon his request), but I kept reading.

"Hey! I threw it down! That means, 'I'm not interested!'"

I kept reading.

"Hey! Now you're just cramming it down my throat."

Well, I couldn't argue with him there. So I just said, "Well, sir, death is gonna cram itself down your throat one day, and there will be nothing you can do about it!" and walked away. I don't know what impression that left on the other two guys who were standing there.

Another lady rejected my tract as I rode on. Then I ran into a missionary who tried to give the tract back to me, but I convinced him that he might need to give it to someone on his plane to Japan. He gladly agreed and asked me to pray for him during his time in Japan, and I did, and then he prayed for me, noting that this was the first time that he had ever been witnessed to on the streets of America. Sad. And happy, because I did get to meet him. His name is Rick.

Then I gave the guy on the other side of the gas pump a tract and then tried to give one to the clerk as he came out for some fresh air. He took one and then some more as we talked about Christianity and Islam, which he tried to say were the same. Um, sorry, sir: not so. Allah does not have a son, and Yahweh does (Proverbs 30:4), and off we were! He ended the conversation saying, basically, that we should still be friends even though we disagree. I didn't contradict him, because I still love him, even though he's wrong; besides, he let me hand Million Dollar Bill tracts to the five or six customers that came in (we went inside because of them). Still, he rejected the Gospel, so please pray for Mohammed. Now, I realize that thiat is the name of many millions of men across the world, but, hey, to pray for all their salvation doesn't hurt a thing! There is no way "the wrong Mohammed" could get saved!

I handed out more tracts, getting mostly acceptance, even though one guy gave the idea that he didn't want it (he still put it in his pocket) and one guy left his tract on the counter of the store where I was trying to pay my bill. (Never did; oh well).

Then Monday morning, I had the same focus: tract everyone I passed by on bicycle until I caught the bus, and then get the bus riders, too. Well, one lady was thanking the Lord profusely, but she said that He had told her to reject the message of the tract I was offering. God told her to reject? I had to recall my encounter with Rick to keep from being discouraged as she continued to rattle on about how ungodly she knew my message to be even though she had not read it. She wouldn't even let me finish the verse that she had started quoting: "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his." She left out, and I tried to quote to her, "And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19) Two other people passing by also rejected the tract. At first, I thought it was the approach, but I think they really knew what they were rejecting; many people do, because many people are confronted with tracts often.

The bus caught up with her and me right then, so I just boarded the bus, but I didn't hand out tracts to everyone as I passed them, not wanting her to rile up. This struck me as cowardly, and I did miss several people by doing so, but I really don't regret it. James 3:18 tells us that "Wisdom from above is, first of all, peaceable..." and I was definitely keeping peace! But after she departed, which wasn't very long, I did hand out tracts to everyone on the bus. Well, except the driver, but I was waiting for my departure, at which time I would give him one, too.

One of the guys I handed it to came down during the stopover at Shoppes at Park Place (aka, Park Place Mall) and reseated right across from me. I asked him what he thought of the tract, and he said that it was definitely true.

"So, you're a Christian?"

"Yeah, Southern Baptist." Sorry, sir, that doesn't mean anything. Former President Bill Clinton was also a Southern Baptist (by affiliation only, though, not by belief; I don't know many people who actually know what their denomination teaches), and he committed adultery while in office, whereas the Southern Baptists believe that such sin disqualifies a person from leadership (just ask a real Southern Baptist pastor who actually follows the dictates of his convention, not the rogues who participate solely to "bring about change." And, no, I am not Southern Baptist.)

"Well, I have a question for you: when was the last time you read your Bible?"

"Before I went to Iraq."

"Well, that must be a long time, because they have some really long tours over there!"

He nodded.

"Well, the reason I ask is this: Jesus said, 'If you continue in My Word, then you are My disciple indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.' So, if you are not continuing in His Word, then the question becomes, 'Are you really His disciple?' I'm not trying to make you doubt your salvation, necessarily, but I am trying to give you a sort of spiritual kick in the pants to get going. The devil is out there to get you, man, and ...[our armor has] a shield of faith and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, so you really need to get in it."

He nodded the whole time. I don't think he was offended as much as convicted. He didn't fire any barbs as he departed the bus. Actually, we exchanged pleasantries.

My stop came shortly after that, so I offered the bus driver a tract. And he rejected it. But I had been sitting right behind him while I was talking to the soldier about reading his Bible, so...=D

Thanks for your prayers. They really do mean a lot.

The REAL Reason I'm Not Going to Africa Anytime Soon

2009-01-17T06:21:00.000-08:00

Actually, "Reason" should be plural.

Samantha
Eleni
Ian
Kali
Gabby
Bridget
Stevo
Josh
Bryn
Spike
Kyle
Asia

And on and on it goes. You think that's a lot to remember? How about when they come practically running up to you, like Samantha did last night, saying, "I bet you don't remember me!" or when you remember one name (Desirae) but not the other (Julianna) because you haven't seen either of them for nearly one full year?

Then there are all the other people you meet, like Blakely, Pam, Matt, Cody, Taylor, Brie, and Pam's mother and sister. Yes, God has a work for me here at home, and yesterday was chock full of confirmations. Actually, my entire stay has been filled with confirmations that this is God's plan for me right now. If I ever make it to Africa, I know that I will not regret the time that I spend in faithfulness watering these seeds. This is still only a partial list of the people I have met at the Rock, and doesn't include the people I meet at flag football in Coquina Key, on the buses I ride, in the restaurants I've been to, or in the preschool where I now work. And these are only the unbelievers.

Yes, financially, things are tight for me. In fact, people have been donating living space for me since I've been back. But the different places I've been (Clearwater, Seminole, NE St Pete, and now NW St Pete) have opened up many divine appointments for me that I never could have otherwise had. My heart is breaking with grief as I review the people and situations I have seen over the past month: Broken families, breaking families, drug addictions, demonic involvement, drunkenness (even in the youth), homelessness--but still in pursuit of beer, which is expensive enough to keep one homeless, willful fornication--even when professing to be Christian and confronted with Scripture. Satan really has a grip on this town. So I'm here to fight.

We have the Super Bowl coming up and are trying to make some arrangements to get our people down to the sites of interest. This will make a great impact on people all over the world, but I am praying for a huge impact here at home. Swindlers love events like this, because people's idolatry of this game opens them up to all kinds of scams, and they will be coming in by the hordes. Also, the swindlers in this town will be converging on unsuspecting tourists, begging and pleading for their money for various reasons. Left out in the cold will be those who actually need help. This is wrong.

So please pray for our Super Bowl Outreach as we team up with believers from all over the country, especially those who are partnering with The Lost Cause Ministries for an evangelism boot camp of sorts to reach the lost who come here. We need all the prayer that we can get. Pray not only for our words to be seasoned with salt, but that our actions will be guided by the Holy Spirit to actually help those who need it and to put the swindlers in their place--repentance.

Foggy Brain

2009-01-15T07:52:00.000-08:00

I don't always see what the Lord is up to with me, which is probably a good thing, because I don't believe that I would actually do what He wants if I knew what the situation would be ahead of time.

I was trying to get to work early this morning because I was trying to make an appointment that I had not confirmed. The Lord had let it fall through, but He wasn't going to tell me about that, because it would have stopped me from taking the course that I did. Story of my life.

I would not have gone to Patmos if I had not been trying to join up with Paul and Marcia Cowley. And I would not have tried to join with them if Pastor Art had not suggested it. And I would not have been under Pastor Art if I had not been trying to do evangelism all over the state of Florida from a central location (Tampa, but Gabe Graham convinced me to move to St Pete). And I would not have wanted to do that except that the first two evangelism boot camps I attended were located in Florida. And I would not have attended the evangelism boot camps except that I had been to a Bible study in St Charles, Mo. A Bible study that I would not have attended except that a person who did not attend that Bible study attended the same church as those men who founded the Bible study and this person was a customer at the restaurant I worked at in St Charles. So, yeah. Story of my life.

So, I'm going out early, and I had kept noticing this bus passing me by about two blocks to my south when I walked up 1st Ave North, and one block when I rode on Central Ave. So I decided that, since I had left my bicycle at church and caught a ride home, I would walk just the three blocks to the south and catch that bus.

But while I was walking, I saw a woman on the 55th St who was rather oddly dressed for the weather. She was wearing very short sleeves and very short shorts, and it was felt like the upper 40s with the wind blowing. I assumed that she was a prostitute (yes, we have them here in St Pete, too), but, because I was desiring to make that appointment, I said to myself and to God, "If I see the bus while I am crossing the street, then I will just go to the bus stop; but, if I don't see the bus, I will go hand her a tract."

You guessed it: I didn't see the bus. And, you probably didn't guess this, but I wasn't seeing a woman.

Marquez told me that he liked the fresh air when I commented on the weather, saying, "Isn't it a bit cold for you to be out here like that?" I'm sorry, I don't know who on earth would believe that line. But, hey. So I gave him the Gospel tract, and he asked me about it. And then he asked if I had a phone number and if I had a girlfriend. Yes and no, respectively. Was I looking for a girlfriend? No. Why not? (he looked surprised). Because God has established that sexual relationships are to be between husband and wife. He wasn't looking for sex....

I didn't address that one either.

He was just looking for...did I live alone? No. Who did I live with? I live with a family who took me in because I'm a (basically) homeless missionary (sounds worse than it really is, because I do have a roof over my head every night and I actually have a respectable job, which isn't the case for many; I just don't have rent money just yet).

"So you came all the way over here just to give this to me?"

"Yes." Lord, what were You thinking!?! Oh, yeah, this is my job. What am I thinking?

So the conversation went on in the (Floridian) cold for about 30 minutes, me telling him to repent, and him asking some very good questions about God, people, demons, etc.

Demons? Yeah. I told him that the grandmother whose grave he watches from that spot can't talk to him. A demon can pretend to be her, though, and that is why the Bible prohibits contact with the dead (because it really isn't the dead that you are talking to). He didn't even get offended when I made very clear to him that homosexual fornication is a sin, and that he needs to follow God's order for marriage (one man and one woman united for life). Just shows that people really do know the truth, even if a man does call himself Mia.

How did I get his male name? I asked him what his parents named him, and he told me. Surprised? I was, too. I think that the very fact that I cared enough to give him a card telling him how to have eternal life removed any hostility he might have had towards me. Even though I called him, "sir," the entire time.

And then I ended up getting a ride to work, because I never did see the bus and I was too cold to wait for it. (Wow, living in Florida and then the Bahamas and back again really makes one a pansy when it comes to the cold.) So much for predictablity. Hello, adventure.

Thanks for your prayers. Now you really know why!

Relationship Evangelism

2009-01-10T05:33:00.000-08:00

I have a good friendship with every bank teller I know. I got to establish another friendship yesterday evening the same way I started all the others.

As Nathalia greeted me, I prayed not remembering if I had talked to her or not. There is another lady who has a similar appearance and her name is Nathalie. But her name badge was different, so I figured out that it wasn't her. Especially when I heard the accent (Russian?). I asked how her day was as she began processing my transaction, and she gave the usual answer, "Fine, and how about you?" I gave her a real answer: "Well, it's over," honestly expressing the strain of the day.

Which gave her the freedom to say, "Well, mine's not over yet, and it's been loooong!"

I didn't capitalize right away, and I don't know why, but I let her process everything, and then, as she was finishing my transaction, there being no one in line behind me (and only one customer in the bank...on a Friday???), I asked her, "Have you ever taken the Good Person Test?"

"The what?" Her eyes got big (which actually is rather common).

"The Good Person Test."

"What is that?"

"It's a three question test to see if you are a good person."

"Okay!" She was excited.

"Question number one: have you ever told a lie?"

"Yes."

"What does that make you if you tell a lie?" (I actually had to repeat the question because she didn't hear me the first time. People have often told me that I need to speak up.)

"A liar."

"That's correct. Question number two: Have you ever stolen anything?"

"No."

"I can't believe you--you just told me that you're a liar."

"What?!" She was a bit surprised, but not offended.

"Are you sure that you've never stolen anything at all, even if it was very small?"

"Never."

"Okay. Well, when I was a kid, my mom told me I couldn't have some candy; I waited until she wasn't looking and I took it anyway: so what does that make me?"

"A robber."

"No, robbers usually beat people up [and then steal from them]."

"Um...a stealer?"

"No, Steelers are a football team in Pittsburgh."

She had to laugh this time. "I don't know..."

I think I froze her brain with that Steeler thing. "A thief."

"Oh, okay."

"Question number three: have you ever hated anyone?"

"Hated anyone? Well, maybe."

"Have you ever cursed at or called someone mean names?"

"Yes."

"Is that treating them with love?"

"No."

"And the opposite of love is what?"

"Hate."

"So what does it make you if you hate somebody?"

"A bad person."

"What kind of a bad person, though? A liar is a bad person, a thief's a bad person."

"I really don't know."

"Okay. Well, the Bible says it makes you a murderer."

Now her eyes got really big for real. "I didn't know that!"

"Most people don't. So-"

"Wow, that means I'm a really bad person!"

"Well, all of us are. But that's why God sent Jesus to die for our sins." As I explained God's way of salvation, Nathalia repeated how undeserving she felt herself to be of God's forgiveness several times. I used that to impress upon her the goodness and love of God. God is not like us.

She asked, "But I repent and I say that I won't do it again, and I find myself doing it again a week later--the same things!"

"That's why God sends us His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and to guide us in the way of righteousness."

"But would He really forgive us that many times?"

"Yes. Jesus told us to forgive the same sin 70 times 7, and God is much mre loving than we are, so of course He could forgive the same sins."

Funny, she did keep saying also how much she didn't like talking about religion. But I said, "Well, let me leave you with this one thing," and I explained how Jesus lived a perfect life just so he could die for us, one more time. By this time, Renato had come up, working on some other things. He and I have talked a couple of times, and I pressed him hard the last time we talked on spiritual things. We greet each other warmly every time I come in. (Also, Angie, Heather, Chris, Amber, Melissa...Jack rejected the Gospel but we still were nice to each other, but I don't know if he still works there.) So he was there to hear her say,

"Well, thanks so much for giving me that message tonight."

You know, I could end this post right now, and it would be already good. But it gets better (though not with Nathalia. May she come to know the Savior and His love very soon...like last night, even).

I caught up with Spike at the Rock when Team Hope went downtown last night. I also made friends with John, Kyle, Samantha, Tiffany, Kanesha, Pam, Brittany, and Grant (who told me that he usually doesn't talk to me). I reacquainted with Will (drunken atheist/ignorant satanist) and Sam (drug dealer). Victoria kept trying to interfere with my conversations with Kyle and John. I saw Redd. I wish I could remember the other names I heard floating around during those two hours, but I can't.

John did say that he was amazed that we continued to come down there (almost) every week. I reminded him that Jesus hung out with harlots and sinners all the time (calling them to repentance, Matthew 9:13, not condoning their sins). It is amazing what 45 minutes of prayer beforehand can do for an outreach ministry. The only time the kids got riled was when Gabe got up to preach, but it was only a few and many of their "friends" were offended that they would be so rude to Gabe, noting his First Amendment rights. It's kind of weird having people who love their sin love me, too, when I'm telling them to stop, but it must have been the norm for Jesus, so I'll take it. Will you?

"If they are not your friends for eternity, they are not your friends." --Mark Cahill

Why don't you start some new friendships today?

P.S. I haven't seen Ian and Kali, and that bothers me (they hate me, but seeing them tells me that they are alive). Please also remember Niki, Tegan, Gabby, Bryn, Melissa, and Asia, and Brooke. Thanks.

I Loooooove Tracts =)

2009-01-09T08:18:00.001-08:00

So, Wednesday evening, I picked up some free tracts that were available at my church's bookstore, Chapel Books. I handed out a few on the way to the bus, and then just talked to people on the bus. Actually, the last post leaves out that I had done this and only tells about what happened on the bus (the last story). I forgot this detail, because I was so focused on what God had done without them.

Therefore, yesterday, I was excited as I rode up 49th St., because I had tracts to give to people along the way. I determined that anyone who was standing around while I was riding by would get a tract. This meant stopping rather frequently, so the cardio benefit of riding the bicycle was minimized. But, hey, bodily exercise only profits a little, but godliness profits much more, not only for this life, but also for the next (see 1 Tim. 4:8). So I didn't worry about it and had great joy just dispensing the Word of life.

Then I decided, inexplicably, to cross the street to tract these four people that were waiting at the bus stop. It was out of my way (sort of) because the church was toward that side of the street, and I wanted to get to work early so that I could get some things done. But I figured it would only be a minute, so I just went on over and got off the bike and gave them some tracts.

And didn't leave for about 45 minutes. You just never know where tracts will lead!

CD had some really good questions about the results of salvation (walking in newness of life) and has some really painful decisions to make (Matthew 5:29-30 is not easy to follow, even understanding that it is hyberbole). Rod was more concerned about politicians than about Jesus, but I tried to get his attention (Matthew 6:33). And JS was "angry with the world" when I walked up, so she didn't get into the conversation much, but she did allow me to pray for her, and I prayed that Jesus would not only resolve the situation for her good, but that she would realize how good He really is. There was another lady, too, but she mostly listened, and then had to leave for a meeting.

All the while I passed more tracts out to passersby. This was acceptable to the people I was talking to, because they realized that nothing is more important than spreading the Word. It is amazing the perspectives held by those who don't follow the Lord with their lives.

After leaving them, I think I handed out two more tracts, got one rejection, chickened out of riding through the trailer park that I had designated as an evangelism target, and made it to work with about an hour to work on things.

Please pray for me and that trailer park. There are a lot of neighborhood kids from their who have come to our church's recreation center and skatepark, but we have noticed little effect on them. We need to get the parents saved, too. I forgot the name of the trailer park, but it sits adjacent to Calvary Chapel's property. God knows who lives there.

Thank you for partnering with me in praying for these people. It is my prayer that we can see them all in Heaven.

Maybe you have some people you'd like prayer for their salvation. I probably won't be able to pray for them daily, but, if you don't mind, we can all pray for them at least once. Just email me the names (or initials), and I'll compile them and share them with the group. That way, we are all praying for each other and for each other's burdens. Deal?

Another Day Without Tracts

2009-01-07T05:10:00.000-08:00

As much as I like using tracts, the Lord seems intent on showing me that He doesn't need them.

The other day, I intended to stop by the church bookstore and grab some of the free tracts that they have available. But I never did (I forgot to). But the Lord had a plan.

Instead, I wore my green "Not Just Jews for Jesus" T-shirt that I got when I was a part of the JFJ New York City Operation: Behold Your God campaign in 2006. Hard to believe that an oft-worn shirt two-and-a-half-year-old shirt can be used to preach the Word, but it gets the job done.

When I got on the bus that morning, a man immediately wanted to discuss it, saying that he supported the state of Israel and good Christian-Jewish relations. I made sure to point out that Jesus is still the only way to Heaven, especially for the Jews, because He became one when he descended from Heaven--He was not a Gentile.

I love bus conversations because you never know who could be listening, and you have to talk loud just to be heard over the noise of the engine. =) Means everyone gets to hear you.

So that night, I got to talk to Paul because I sat in his seat when the bus restarted. (When a bus has a layover, the passengers are allowed to disembark and then reseat with no penalty.) He made a point to notify me of the infraction and then to blow it off by insisting that I remain there. It didn't matter to me if we switched seats or not--I had a fish! And he wasn't going to get off the hook.

I had tried to insert myself into (and take over) another public conversation, but it didn't work. But when I was talking to Paul and insisting that good works won't get you to Heaven, nor will growing up in church, nor will saying a prayer every night before you go to bed, the other people started listening. And, as I left the bus, I could see that they were all talking about what I had just told him. That was a good feeling, but it still burdens me that Paul was so resistant. Maybe I got the resistant guy so that the Gospel would have more preaching, but I still long for Paul to be saved.

In times like this, I think of the prophet Jeremiah, whom God told from the start that he would not have a successful ministry, in terms of converts in his day. But, because they would not repent, the story went on and on, and we have it recorded today in Jeremiah and Lamentations for our good, and it has blessed untold millions. Surely, my conversations have a smaller effect, but it is good to know that there is a biblical principle behind it.

So I looked for that kind of person last night. I didn't get him the first try, because, as I gave this guy the good person test, his phone rang right as we began to board the bus. Not wanting to be rude, I went to another seat. The second guy got off the bus a little too soon, but I did get through the test and the Gospel with him. The third guy was the charm.

He tried to tell me about some guy who calls himself a Christian but teaches "spirituality" and recognizes some value in other religions. Sorry, bud, but all the world's religions were invented by Satan to keep people in bondage and on their way to hell. I didn't say it quite that way, but I made sure to make the point.

I told him that Christianity and Islam are definitely incompatible, because Jesus said even calling someone a mean name is murder, but Islam says to execute those who don't acknowledge Allah (Jesus said to preach to them, not kill them; which, of course, means that the Crusades were unbiblical). Then I pointed out that Jesus is the only Person who was raised from the dead. Mohammed, Buddha, and all the others still have bones in their graves.

Of course, he went to the proof argument for everything I said after that. I told him about 120 witnesses to Christ's resurrection (Acts 1 and 2), and he asked for proof that they weren't lying. I asked him if he would die for a lie he and his buddies concocted. He said that he would. Really? Let's be reasonable.

"But how do you know that that Bible is actually written the way it is supposed to be? And how do you know that anything in the Bible is actually true?"

Textual criticism, real life. Real life is what convinced me that the Bible is true in the first place. My parents said that it was true, but reading the Word for myself proved it to me. Proverbs was the clincher. (Yes, you atheists reading this blog: Proverbs. Attack that one if you can!)

He tried to go on, but I had to get off the bus. I think the driver was tired of me anyway. Oh well. At least everyone got to hear. Now praying for them all to be reasonable enough to forsake their sins and embrace the Savior that God has approved by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:31).

So much for 8900

2009-01-05T19:49:00.001-08:00

So Google Maps says that Calvary Chapel is only about 7.7 miles from where I am staying. My rear-end begs to differ--it was kind of sore when I was still more than a mile out!

I rode my bicycle all the way home this evening, just to see how well my Patmos fitness would hold up after a ... well, can't describe it as physically hard work. Taking care of children is certainly stressful, but it isn't exhausting ... yet. And I was only there for six hours, so ... Plus, I got to chill out with a great rock band called Holfast. They are awesome!

Actually, one of their songs was pumping through my head while I was riding. The beat was just what I needed to keep on pedaling. Interestingly, my legs still aren't tired. I probably only put them through a mile long run, if that.

But none of this has anything to do with evangelism!

I got two opportunities today, both at the ACE Cash Your Check at Loan Shark Rates Place on Park Blvd--not to cash a check, but to buy that bus pass I thought I was going to need...okay, apparently, I still need it... There was a young woman in front of me who was trying to get the kinks out of her neck. "Pop! Pop!"

"Ooh! That didn't sound too good," I commented.

"It sure felt good!" she smiled.

"Well, maybe the condition of your neck before that happened wasn't so good."

"I guess."

"I have a question for you."

She turned around. "Sure."

"Have you ever taken the Good Person Test?"

She looked at me quizzically. "No?"

"Okay. It's a three-question test to see if you're a good person. Ready?" She nodded. "Question number one: Have you ever told a lie?"

She laughed. "Yeah."

"Okay. [I seem to say "okay" a lot. I wonder why?] What does that make you if you tell a lie?"

"A liar."

"Okay, good. Question number two: Have you ever stolen anything?"

"Not that I remember."

"Okay, well, when I was a kid, my mom told me that I couldn't have some candy; I waited until she wasn't looking and I took it anyway: what does that make me?"

"A stealer."

"No, stealers are from Pittsburgh, try again."

I probably could have picked up from the fact that she didn't try again that she was tiring of this game. But I thought that she just forgot to respond because the teller told her about a convenience fee she didn't plan to pay. She adjusted her transaction, and I continued,

"Question number three: Have you ever hated anyone?"

"Yes."

"What does it make you if you hate somebody?"

"Hmm...I don't know."

"Good answer. Most people don't know. The correct answer is a murderer," spoken most casually for effect.

Her eyes enlarged. "A murderer? Why?"

"Because the issue is not how much harm we do to the other person, it's how angry God will be because we take His air and use it to mistreat our fellowman."

"Wow. Okay. Well, thanks!" and she almost ran out the door. I wish that I had a chance to give her the good news, too, but I am confident that the Lord will follow up. He loves her more than I do. I think her name is Alana, but I'm not sure.

So then, having no one behind me, I immediately targeted the teller. I told her of my earthly purpose for being there, then asked, "Can I ask you a question.?"

"Sure."

"Have you ever taken the Good Person Test?"

"The what?"

"It's a three-question test to see if you're a good person."

"Well, I might not pass it, depending on which day I take it."

"Well, this is just a general test. Ready? Question number one: Have you ever told a lie?"

"Oh, yes."

"What does that make you if you tell a lie?"

"A liar," she laughed.

"A liar, right. Question number two: Have you ever stolen anything?"

"You mean from when I was real little--" she motions with her hand, and I affirm "--then, yeah."

"So what does that make you if you steal?"

"A thief," she laughed (again!).

"A thief, right." Now, usually, at this point I say, "...because Steelers are from Pittsburgh," but I didn't this time. I don't really know why. Yes, sometimes people look at me funny, but most people laugh, because the thought did enter their minds. "Question number three: Have you ever hated anyone?"

"Yes."

"And what does that make you if you hate somebody?"

"A hater." (She should have just said, "I don't know," like the smart girl.)

"No, that's the ghetto answer." She doubled over laughing. "Actually, it makes you a murderer." I explained and gave her the good news. She had not stopped smiling when I left, though it was pretty well impossible to keep laughing after being newly informed that God considers her a murderer. Good thing God loved us enough to send Jesus, or we'd all be going to Hell, and I could not, in good conscience, let anyone laugh about that.

So, those were the only two witnessing opportunities I had today. I am praying to pick up some free tracts from our church's bookstore tomorrow (there is a small stash of freebies at the counter). I like to try to get to as many people as pass me by, but we all know that that is physically impossible. Which is why I make it my goal. (Besides the fact that I'm an idiot.)

Anyway, I didn't get the teller's name, but please pray for her and Alana that they would be saved. And please take full advantage of those times you have alone with a stranger. Small talk, then God talk. Simple, really. Now, if we could just find the transition words...

--
Think you're a good person? Prove it at http://www.livingwaters.com/good

Patmos: A Look Back

2009-01-04T13:33:00.000-08:00

I don't really talk about my real life struggles that often, primarily because it is often hard to stop once I get started, and the talk can turn into gossip. But, this time, I'm going to try.

People keep asking how I am doing since I've been back. I've been elated. Calvary Chapel St Pete is my home church, and the people here love me, like I never knew before.

I kind of got a hint of it at the party that JT insisted on throwing for me before I left, and the numerous people who agreed to become prayer partners for me during my time in the Bahamas, and the number of people who showed up at the party. So I was unprepared for the friction that took place between me and nearly everyone I was associated with in the Bahamas at Patmos.

I don't think I realized it until I had been home for a couple of weeks, but I react to people that way all the time. Most of the time, they don't get to be offended by it because they don't see it. Then the Lord talks some sense into me, and everything is okay. But I couldn't really hide it from anybody, because someone was always around. So, before the Lord could have His way with me, someone would ask me about something, and the wrong thing would be said, or the right thing with the wrong attitude, or even the right thing but they just didn't like it, and hostilities ensued.

Toward the end, most of it got corrected, as I made a concerted effort to win the team back over, once it was brought to my attention how much people actually hated me there. (Imagine that.) Most people here who know me are stunned that any Christian would hate me, and I do get along with most of the unsaved people I know, too, but it happened. I didn't really pay it too much attention, because, something most people may not know, I don't live for other people's approval, so I didn't really care. So Pastor Chet had to make me see that I really was an island and that it wasn't a good thing. And he had a hard job, because I have done a lot of things as the only person willing to actually do it, so I don't mind working alone, and sometimes even prefer it--but God called us all to be a part of His body, not a bacterium all by ourselves.

To be sure, the pursuit unity has its own problems: when do you drop a disagreement for the sake of unity, and when do you just stand because the Word of God is more important? That question alone will drive anyone nuts, and it did me for the rest of my time, as I made blunder after blunder on both sides. This was definitely a learning experience for me, and it didn't come without its casualties. I actually still have a bad taste in my mouth regarding Patmos, if only for the memories alone.

Now that's not to say that I was not blessed. I got about 35 new friends out of it, I got to preach to about 200 people in one day, I was able to be a part of various evangelistic outreaches for longer periods of time, etc. But it was hard. I even got vindicated on several decisions that didn't go my way, but it was hard waiting for it to happen, and even harder not to rub it in the faces of those who had stood on other side (I could say, "those who opposed me," but that wouldn't be accurate, because they were just trying to help). Your prayers really carried me. I can't thank you enough for every time you just prayed for me.

Since I've been home, I have an even greater appreciation for CC St Pete. We visited about a dozen churches during my time away, as a way for us to experience the different kinds of churches that there are out there, and, honestly, I was starving. Many of the churches had false teaching mixed in, some of them had just shallow sermon material, and the one sermon that I thought was really good ... the preacher made it sound like John Piper was his authority.

Now, I did like the music at most of the churches, but not all. Some of them even took me back to my days in the Baptist church, with the old hymns that were sung. Actually, I wish that we did more hymns at Calvary Chapel, because I realize just how spiritual they are. But I observed there and here that most people don't listen very closely to the words that they sing. They just like how it sounds. So when the preaching and the music didn't line up, most people don't seem to notice. Nor if their lives don't match the commitments they were singing to the Lord.

One of those songs that sounds so spiritual, but we can easily miss the meaning, goes something like this: "Please take from me my life/When I don't have the strength/To give it away to You/Please take from me my life/When I don't have the strength/To give it away to You, Jesus" (Third Day). Oh, really?

You see, I think the Lord got tired of the way I griped about people behind their backs to Him, and so He put me in a position where I couldn't hide my feelings from them anymore. Is that really a song we want to sing? It doesn't just mean death. I mean, my life was certainly taken away from me!

I regretted singing that song. Now that I know what it means for real, I don't sing it so loudly. I had thought that I was being careful about what songs I sang until Patmos. Then I knew: I wasn't that careful!

So if you ask me why I'm glad to be home, this is the report that I give you.

Now, you could read this and think that I have had no problems since I've been home. That's just not true.

I arrived with only $2.58 in the bank. Someone had sent me a $50 money order, so I deposited it once I got back to St Pete. I stayed with a couple in Seminole, but that's almost 8 miles from the church, and I don't have my car back (I gave it away when I left, because there was no need for it to just sit around for four months, and I could not afford to renew the insurance on it anyway). The next day, the couple actually gave me $20 so I could catch the bus, so that helped. The next day, a friend gave me five dollars for lunch, and I found a $20 bill in my luggage. I don't know if the lady who picked it up for me did that, or if it was the couple that drove me to Seminole that night.

The next day, Pastor Art came down the hall at church and handed me an envelope containing $150 which he said came in anonymously (of course, there was no handwriting sample for me to track down, either; nice card, though). I used that money to get the phone I have now, so that I could actually get the job I have now (I work at CC St Pete's preschool, Calvary Kids Care), and still had money left over. Then I sold the two phones I had had before for about $5 the next day. So that, everyday my first week back, I had more money than the day before.

But buses cost money. I, unwisely, did not invest in a 31-day pass, and paid for it by running out of money for the bus while I was staying at a friend's place in Clearwater. I know that Clearwater is still in Pinellas County, but it is a loooooong way from Pinellas Park!!! The Lord is good, so a coworker from my days here in the maintenance department took me in for a couple days. His place was much closer to the church, but it was also kind of small, and I did not want to over burden him, so I moved in with another family...yes, in North St Pete, but only 1st Ave. For those of you who don't know, Calvary Chapel is 8900 North. And I don't have bus money.

Now, that doesn't mean that I'm walking, because the bicycle I had before was given back to me by a friend, so things haven't been impossible. In fact, the bicycle just might be the only thing that keeps off the 20 lbs I lost while at Patmos (yet another benefit).

Now, I'm not asking for donations. I am going to get paid at the end of this week. But it has been an adventure, to say the least. Fortunately, blessedly, I have friends at every turn. I think that every tenth person knows me at CC St Pete, and most of them like me. So the Lord has really been good to me, even though I have had a hard financial time. But this is what goes on behind the scenes of the great evangelism happenings of my life. Wild things. I'm blown away by it all.

One thing that has really helped during this transition time: the online sermons. I've said to several people: We are spoiled at Calvary Chapel St Pete. Absolutely spoiled. The quality of teaching is second to none. I actually know what to change in my life when I listen, I don't have to search for it. i actually learn from the passages things I never would have noticed, or things that I haven't noticed even with many readings! We are blessed. Let us not forget that.

Please pray for my friends I made in the Bahamas as they make their own transitions with their own stories and changes and twists. They are just as lovable as most of you think I am ... even if we did butt heads for the first ... ten weeks? So, bless them!

UPDATE: I will have a bus pass today. They were able to loan me the money for the monthly pass, and I will repay them at the end of the week. All my needs are covered. I don't deserve this! God is so good!!!

An update...of sorts...

2009-01-03T15:23:00.001-08:00

I went with Team Hope last night to downtown St Pete, and Vero snagged me to go to the Pier. So she, Tom, and I tracted people and cars along the way to our destination, and then we paused for a couple of great conversations with fishermen.

I actually got to talk to Robin. "Like 'Batman and Robin'?" I asked him.

"Yeah," he replied.

"Do you get that a lot?"

"Not anymore." He was recently discharged from the military and claimed to be a Christian. I asked him to consider John 8:30-32, and he said that he had never looked at it that way--that if someone is not continuing in Jesus' Words, he might not actually be Jesus' disciple.

Later I talked with some youths, who were very excited to see the Million Dollar Bill I was handing out (a local evangelist had custom ordered a different kind). One of them asked for my Bible, saying that he didn't have one. I gladly gave it to him, telling him that I had wondered why God was having me bring my Bible along (it was not pocket-sized), but now I knew for sure. He was amazed and thanked me; I told him to thank God, because I didn't set this up at all. He did.

As the night drew to a close, we tracted another parking lot on the way back to the bus, and I got to talk to a family and a couple of teens briefly. The teens seemed familiar with church, but confused about the Gospel. I made sure that they knew that being in Heaven was a lot more important than attending church (not disparaging that at all, but it is true), and then left them with the tracts.

I think I handed out about three hundred tracts that night, but it didn't seem like there were that many people. Maybe there were.

Then today I played flag football, as part of a community outreach of our new church plant in Coquina Key. We played for about three hours, trying to demonstrate that we must honor God with everything that we do, even the way we play a game. I don't know how deeply the message is getting through, but the field is just exciting to see. All racial barriers have been demolished, and a fair game is actually possible.

I had to do my laundry after that, and got convicted that I was not giving out the tracts that I had. I was thinking that the number of people passing me by was too great for the few tracts I had. But then the Lord reminded me that I cannot ask for more tracts if I don't use the ones I already have. So I started unloading them into the hands of a few people, and, in particular, to a group of three kids. As one of them took it, he asked, "Are you from downtown?"

I said, "Yes," knowing that he was asking about Team Hope.

"We've met a couple of times."

I think he is the third kid from the Rock that I have seen in North St Pete. It has been good catching them away from their friends. They have been cordial enough. He even accepted the tract that I gave him with no fuss whatsoever. But my biggest prayer is that they get saved! I don't just want them to be my friends, though I don't mind that. I want to see all of my friends get to heaven! I don't know his name, but you could pray for all the kids down at the Rock.

Oh, I almost forgot: During one of Tom's conversations, a young man named Joshua prayed to receive the Lord. The fruit of his life will tell if this was a true conversion, but the young man didn't miss the gravity of his sin, nor the love it took for Jesus to sacrifice for him. But I'm excited. His grandmother seemed to be a solid Christian already attending a good church, so we didn't follow up too closely.

I did give Robin directions to our church, so he may show up someday.

Anyway, thanks for praying, and may God richly bless you!

No Go for Morrocco

2009-01-02T06:18:00.000-08:00

I had posted about an upcoming short term missions trip to Morrocco to commence in May that I was considering participating in. I have decided against it in order to focus on the ministry that the Lord has given me here in St Pete.

I have always held that one cannot be an obedient Christian abroad without being an obedient Christian at home. I feel that I should put into practice the lessons the Lord taught me during those sixteen weeks here before endeavoring to display His grace upon me abroad. Now that doesn't mean that I will take no trips at all this year. Just that I am not now planning to attend this one.

Team Hope is firing up once again tonight. Please be praying for the people that we shall be ministering to. Please also be praying for us, because evangelism should not be merely an event, but a lifestyle: we are to bring Christ into everything we do, even our entertainment. Life should never have a spot where Jesus is absent. Satan doesn't take a day off, so why should we? (Note: this has nothing to do with the gift of rest that God has given to all His children.)

That said, sustaining a Christlike mindset is an impossibility, without the constant aid of the Holy Spirit. Thus we need your prayers like never before. Thank you very much for your partnership with us in this. May God bless you.

Back at the Rock

2008-12-29T08:27:00.000-08:00

It was good to be back downtown, to reacquaint myself with the old friends I had made in South Straub Park before I left. Not many were there, but there were a lot of new faces.

I tried to speak with as many of them as I could. Angelina and Darnell kept coming back even though they kept leaving me while I was trying to talk to them. I finally got to have a serious conversation with her, but he never got interested.

Please pray for these children--that's what they are: children. They have been tremendously hurt and deceived. Yes, they are violent; yes, they are drug-addicts; yes, they are whores and whoremongers; but they are children, created by God, loved by Jesus Christ, and wooed by His Holy Spirit. They are in desparate need of love.

And please pray for those of us who reach out to them, because it is discouraging to see Joe, who has prayed a prayer, confessed Jesus, etc., but he still hangs out down there. I don't know if he is being an influence or being influenced. If the former, he really needs prayer, because the sins from which he is trying to free his friends is the same sin that appealed to him for so long. If the latter, he really needs prayer, because his soul is in just as much danger as the others. Please, please pray.

God bless you.

Mysterious Ways

2008-12-20T06:39:00.000-08:00

You invite me to something on a Friday night, I'm not coming. It just doesn't happen. "Sorry, Team Hope," is my usual response.

I never skip Team Hope, unless I can't make it at all, which also means that I'm not going anywhere else. Unless it's overtly evangelism-related.

So why on earth did I agree to go to my friend's early Christmas party yesterday? I mean, yesterday was Friday, Team Hope was not cancelled, this was not an overtly evangelistic party--so why did I go? I even spent almost the whole day at Calvary Chapel, which is Team Hope's weekly base, and had to go all the way back to Seminole (more than seven miles on bicycle, because the bus had both bike racks occupied) to be in position to get picked up for the party.

Why?

His name is Mark. He is a friend of one of the Christians who was at the party, but wasn't one himself, last I heard. But I got to witness to him, discovering that several people had tried. He even said to me, "Okay, you win." My heart dropped. I looked at him and said, "You know, it doesn't do you any good if I win--that doesn't get you into Heaven. You need to be covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ on Judgment Day, and that doesn't happen just because I win the argument."

Interestingly, he did say that he could feel the love coming from me as I spoke. I deflected the glory to Jesus, knowing that it was His love flowing through me at that moment, and knowing that this was the sole reason that I had been lead to skip Team Hope. Wow. God is good.

I'm Baaaaaaack!

2008-12-17T06:27:00.000-08:00

And none too soon.

Travelling to a "developing nation" (the politically correct term for "Third World country") has its drawbacks. Like losing your luggage. You can never be too prepared. My only carry-on was my guitar when I went there. Bad idea. It took almost a week to be able to shower. Use that "personal item" for good.

Good thing I remembered that on my way back. You see, I checked in late for my flight from Ft Lauderdale to St Pete Monday morning. So, my checked bags didn't make it with me. But I have been okay for the couple of days, because I properly chose and packed my carry-on.

So I wasn't as stressed as JN when we were among about a half-dozen people who discovered our luggage missing as we disembarked in the Tampa Airport. She was quite furious, actually. I calmed her down by changing the subject: "Have you ever taken the good person test?"

She was surprised that hatred draws the same judgment from God as murder. Of course, it was quite applicable to our current situation. She asked, "So what am I supposed to do?" Pray. I quoted Jesus' words to us about loving our enemies in Matthew 5:44-46. She was stunned by all this. Fortunately for her, I believe she had packed her carry-on properly--it was just that she valued what was in the checked baggage. I reminded her of Matthew 6:33 and prayed for her.

So you never know why God may have you check-in late or lose your luggage. Just know that every situation is an opportunity of a lifetime for you and me to shine His light in a dark world. Amen?

One Week to Go!!! (December 2008 Update)

2008-12-07T15:02:00.000-08:00

I am so excited! I get to come home in a week!

I won't be at church this coming Sunday, because I will be in Fort Lauderdale still. Much of my class is from Fort Lauderdale, and we are planning to attend the Calvary Chapel there and fellowship with each other for a couple extra days. Then I will return sometime in the morning on Monday, December 15th.

My plan is to attend Mission Minded Fellowship's December 16th meeting and the evening service on Wednesday. I am planning to stay at D&D Missionary Homes, if my application gets approved. I don't know where I am going to work, I am intending to seek seasonal employment when I return, because I don't want to be tied down right away. Patmos V, the next Patmos class, will be offered the opportunity to go to Morroco in May for about two weeks, and I am praying about going. I would need to have $800 in to the Adventure Learning Centre by February.

I must apologize to those of you who are receiving this as the only email you have received from me this whole time. I am new to the email system that I am using (Novell) and I have not had a lot of time to compose these updates. I believe I have posted all the rest of them on my weblog (www.witnessingwithjsb2.blogspot.com) and this one will go there, too. Not having a digital camera, I don't have pictures to send to you, but when my classmates decide to post their pictures publicly, I will tell you their web location.

I cannot thank you enough for your prayers. There have been many, many times when I was ready to leave Patmos, and, one night, I had even packed my clothes. If it had not been for you, my prayer warriors, I would not have made it this far. I am especially grateful for those of you who haven't seen me or met me but still pray for me. I have many times felt your prayers carrying me through. I am certain that I could not have made it without you.

And let us not forget that we still have one week to go. I expect this to be the hardest week yet. This past term was supposed to be easier than the previous four, but that was only by about 5%, as things that were not anticipated began to complicate things. It was a bit frustrating, but we have survived. God has shown this team much grace, and I am grateful beyond words.

I know that people get concerned because we don't say what happens here. Suffice to say, nothing sinful, and nothing deadly. Sorry, but the element of surprise is part of the program. As much as I have not enjoyed the experience (but I have reveled in surviving this far), I am not going to spoil it for those who may want to attend later. Although, some things have been changed. Please pray for Patmos V (*shudders*).

So why would I go to Morocco? Pastor Chet was a missionary in Liberia for three years, and I'd like to spend some time with him on the other continent before I get over there myself. In addition, he is a friend of Paul Cowley, whose mission interests me greatly. Also, this is a venture into Muslim territory, in which I don't have much experience. Muslims are making moves in Kenya (actually, all over Africa), and I would like to get some field experience before I end up with a longer commitment. I am hoping to speak with Brother Paul before I finalize that decision.

How long will I be home? I really don't know. It could be up to a year. I am just remaining open to the Lord's timetable. I will know more after conferring with Brother Paul, and I will update you at that time. May God richly bless you. I thank God for all of you.

Joshua S Black

P.S. I was not able to meet with Brother Paul Cowley during his time in St Pete. He was very busy, but he did tell Pastor Art Dykstra, my missions pastor, that he is not able to take me on right now. I am disappointed, but I can't complain. I don't make these decisions. I don't run my life. =)

Yes!!

2008-11-12T18:00:00.000-08:00

Greetings my friends!

As most of you know, my favorite pastime is evangelism. We don't get to do much of it here, because we are placed in a sort of discipleship cocoon, so that when we do step back into the "real world" we better represent Christ to the world. But I still like doing evangelism, and the Lord made the way!

Monday, we had a special time of simply meditating on the Word and prayer, and we were taken to Goodman's Beach, where a lot of locals resort when they want to have fun. No, I don't like being at the beach in the day time, but the Lord is good, and I can rejoice in Him at all times.

I prayed during this time that we were out in public doing nothing but prayer and reading that I would have occasion to preach His Gospel to someone. Well, the Lord provided.

There was a man named John who was standing at the end of the fence. He did not seem too interested in talking at all at first, but I pressed, and he engaged. Mostly, we talked about the dreadful effect of the economic recession in the US on the economy of the Bahamas, which I didn't know about. As a consequence, he did most of the talking, and I never found a transition to the Gospel. I did interject a point about not chasing wealth, but I think it went over his head. I have found that the Lord sometimes sets people up for later appointments, so I was not overly concerned. I did pray for him and feel like a failure for about fifteen minutes, but the Lord cleared that feeling up, and I moved on.

Philip and Ken are "Reverends" and Roberto is a business partner, and their business is jet-ski rides for tourists. Obviously, they were hurting for business, so they were doing nothing but sitting and talking when I was on my way back from the restroom. I didn't want to approach them at first, thinking that my entrance would be awkward, but the Lord convinced me that this was His will, so I did.

Sure enough, it was awkward starting the conversation, but the Lord soon kicked it into high gear, as Philip asked me about the US elections and my choice for president. The choice has already been made by the Lord, but black people in general like to discuss and debate things just to have an argument about them. Philip was no exception (though there are many), and I took the bait because we had already established Christianity as the baseline, and I don't care enough about politics to panic if the person I voted for doesn't win (primarily because most politicians are corrupt anyway).

This is how I found out that Philip was a false prophet. He thought it more important as a Christian to stand against McCain for calling out a black false prophet during the campaign for being racist (something that I heard about but paid no attention to) than for us to seek the salvation of whatever leader God puts in the White House. Then he told me that he thought that Muslims go to Heaven too. Oh, and those who never heard about Jesus? They get in, too.

When I contradicted him using Scriptures and repeating Jesus' claim to exclusivity found in John 14:6, he asked about the Old Testament saints. This guy is a preacher? This experience gave me a new appreciation for what Paul Cowley does in Kenya. Wow.

Funny thing is, he got distracted by customers right as it was time for me to leave. Hmm...I think the Lord had it all planned out from the start. I gave him something to think about. Roberto lost interest rather quickly, and Ken did, too. But there was a young lad who stopped by to listen when I was explaining some of the Scriptures to Philip, so I don't believe for a minute that the time was wasted.

May God bless you all as you endure your trials of faith and your triumphs over fear.

Best Day of Patmos!!

2008-10-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

Well, the best day so far, anyway. Graduation will be the real best day!

I'm sorry I haven't updated all of you all this time, but I have almost never had the time to even put all your emails in. I am right now under pressure to get off this computer, but I have insisted on giving you this very update, because it is the first for many of you and the happiest for the rest of you.

God blessed me yesterday with Fun Day. The Adventure Learning Centre here in the Bahamas has four Fun Days a year, as an outreach opportunity and a way to acquaint the community at large with the ALC. I was privileged to do the Gospel presentation at the Pavilion Show we featured this year. In fact, we were so featured, that the DJ turned his music down so that people could hear us.

To start it off, we had a break-dancing demo, the Intelligence Test, animal identification using break-dance moves, and, the best part, the Good Person Test. All these parts of the Pavilion Show were well received, and about 200 people view it and heard it. I have to separate the two because some people could see, but they could not hear us because someone stole the ALC's sound system a little while back. I had to shout, but the Pavilion doesn't have good acoustics, so some people on the fourth row couldn't hear us. That bothered me, but Colin (a fellow Patmos student) and I submitted it to prayer, and the Lord had me stand on a chair that was closer to the crowd than the stage and was higher, too. That made a big difference, and the Lord really blessed. Even some of the people here who were previously hesitant concerning the Good Person Test thought that we did very well.

It felt like I was back at an evangelism boot camp! That's how awesome it was!

I've been trying to update my blog, witnessingwithjsb2.blogspot.com, but my chances to do so have been rare. They really do pack our time here, teaching us to use it wisely. I haven't always done so, but I am learning to do better. I hope to see many of you in St Pete in either late December or in January after I get back from seeing my family in St Louis after graduation. God bless you all, and thank you for your prayers.

In Christ,

Joshua S Black