Lynn Park Outing

Lynn Park Outing

I was coming home from an interview Monday and just felt like I needed to go to the park and preach. I called my wife to see if she wanted to go and take the kids. So I came home we got ready and headed out.

I had not been in over a month. The last time I drove by to do it, the fear/anxiety was so high that I chickened out. While I can go out alone, it is easier when you have a brother or sister there praying for you.

We arrived had to pray a few times before we started because of family tensions. We were not united in purpose and attitude. I called everyone back into the van, so we could work out our issues. We prayed, talked, and then got out again.

The wife and kids went to invite people at the edges to come toward the middle. I raised my voice and started calling to them as well. Two young girls were walking by so I called out to them to join us for some Christmas Trivia. Ashley, 17, stayed with us.

I asked some easy questions and started swing from the natural into the spiritual. I then asked if anyone would make Santa’s nice list, if he used the Ten Commandments to measure them. I then asked if anyone to go through a couple and see. Ashley volunteered. It turned out that Ashley and the rest of us would be on the naughty list.

I then had to let them know that while Santa might not use the Ten Commandments, God in fact will. I went on to share the gospel with Ashley and the rest. I could see a change in Ashley as we talked about sin and why we can not earn our way to Heaven. We talked about the fact that around 2000 years ago a way for the debt to be paid came into the world. We talked about his lack of sin, but having such a great love for us that He paid our fine Himself.

Afterwards, I talked to James. James is a homeless man that is turning his life around. He wants to reenter society, and he realizes he is the reason for were his is now. His words not mine. I told him that I see no reason for God not to let him be reconciled to his family and rejoin society. So I offered to pray with him. Looking into his eyes I could see this spark of life that is many times absent in those without hope or without Hope (Christ). He claims the Lord and I believe him.

I got many encouragements from those listened. They were genuinely receptive and appreciative that we came out to share the gospel with them.

On the way out of the park, Walker asked if he could go and do the pink and blue tract with a man sitting on the bench. I said yes. Then Ginger said,” is that not Larry.” I looked over and saw that it was Larry. Therefore, I went over to talk to him.

Larry and I had met at one of the first times I had preached at Lynn Park. He is homeless as well. However, he has never asked for money. We talked about the Bible and I spent two hours talking to him one day. I realized that day why evangelism and counseling were both laid on my heart by God..

He told me that he has not seen his son in about 10-15 years. When he told me his son’s name I was shocked. Because his son is in the Marine Corps and is a sergeant. I worked with a Marine Corps sergeant by the same name. Well it turned out that they were not the same person. I did call the Marine Corp and try to track down his son. His son was deployed over seas, but I forwarded information to him on were his dad is and my contact info.

He had a ticket previously for beingin the park after curfew.. I asked him how it had turned out. He told me when he got their there was a guy he did not know. This guy walked up and asked his name. This guy told him he would talk to the judge for him. This mystery man walked up to the judge and talked to him. Then walked back to Larry and told him the charge was thrown out. Larry asked if he needed to wait for a piece of paper or something. The man said that the charge was already erased from the computer.

The funny thing is that I use a courtroom illustration sometimes. I tell them that they have a fine they can’t pay and will have to go to jail. Then I say but what if a someone, you don’t even know, was to walk into the courtroom and pay the fine for you. What would you think of that man? Then I let them know that is exactly what Jesus did for them 2000 years ago.

I want to ask all of you that might read this to lift up Larry and his son Allan. That God protect his son from harm in the Middle East, and that he reconcile them to each other on this side of heaven.

Chronicles of Narnia

Chronicles of Narnia

This book series by C.S. Lewis has the gospel of Jesus Christ woven into its story line. Check out this website and listen to an explanation of the first book.

http://www.narniastory.com/

Why do only 5 of Chr

“Why do only 5% of Christians ever lead anyone to Christ?”

I  had a friend and pastor ask me one time, “Why do you think statistics show only 5% of Christians ever lead anyone to Christ?”

Many quote this statistic as a reason for not sharing the gospel or as an excuse for not leading someone to Christ. However I think that statistic makes sense only if you look at another figure. Bill Bright is his book The Coming Revival, reported that “only two percent of believers in America regularly share their faith in Christ with others” (New Life Publication, p. 65)

Could the answer be that simple? Can the reason most Christian never lead someone to Christ is because they do not share the gospel with others on a regular basis? Yes, I believe it is that simple.

How do you become good at something? You first study it, then you do it. At first you will not be very good, and you will struggle and even mess up. If you continue to practice what you are learning to do then it becomes second nature. However if you only do it a couple times at first, then a couple times a year after that, you will never become good at it.

Try becoming good at golf by watching a video, taking a couple practice swings, and going to the golf course for a game twice a year. How good will you get? Not very. What is the chance you will sink a hole in one or even two? Not very likely.

Well we do that with evangelism, we either never learn to share or faith, or we learn and never practice it. Without practicing it we never become comfortable or even good at it. Our lack of knowledge reduces the chances we will lead anyone to Christ. Our lack of practice causes difficulty in verbalizing the gospel, which reduces our chances of leading anyone to Christ.

Now let assume you have learned to do it and you have practiced it enough that it is second nature for you to explain the gospel. Your chances of leading someone to Christ is perhaps 3 out of 10 ( just picking a number to give as example). You still have to share the gospel with 10 in order to lead the 3 to Christ. If you only share the gospel 7 times this year, you might miss the opportunity to lead someone to Christ.

I believe that lack of knowledge keeps many away from sharing Christ to others. I believe that amongst those that know how, lack of practice keeps them from leading someone to Christ. Then for those who have knowledge and that have practiced enough in the past to have the presentation down pat, they do not share the gospel enough to lead anyone to Christ.

That is the easy answer and it is true for most of us.

Is it possible for someone to have the knowledge, and practice sharing the gospel enough to have it down pat, do it on a regular basis (with the lost) and not lead anyone to Christ?

It is possible. Our command was to preach the gospel to every creature, and to make disciple of all nations. That command does not guarantee us that we will lead anyone to Christ, and out of obedience we may toil for many years if not forever without leading another to Christ. You could be a sower or waterer all of your life and another gets the pleasure of reaping. I have sown and I have reaped. Reaping is more fun but without sowing there is no reaping. I can even tell of one incident were I sowed or watered, and a few minutes later another part of the team I was with reaped.

I only encourage you to learn to share the gospel, use intense practice in the beginning so you can become comfortable, and then do it regularly for the rest of your life. You will be blessed and more importantly you will be a blessing to many.

Fear of Man

Fear of Man


This is an excerpt from my upcoming book called Do You Love Me? The book will tackle Evangelism and how that figures into our love for Jesus.

Almost every time I choose to withhold the gospel from someone, it is because of the fear of man. I am afraid they will think I am crazy. I am afraid they will attack me verbally or physically. I am afraid I will offend them by insinuating they are not a Christian or a good person. I am afraid if they are atheist, Buddhist, homosexual, or fill-in-the-blank, they will think I am being judgmental. My biggest fear is they know me and will bring up my sins from long ago … or from last week.

I was on the way to the hospital to visit a friend, Melissa, who had a blood vessel burst in her head. Her brother is one of my longest, lasting friends. I had been sharing the gospel, using questionnaires, with an EE team in a public location. I was thinking it was easier for me to share with strangers than with family, and that, other than my immediate family, Melissa and her family would be the hardest to share with. I went to the hospital with the plan to pray for her and comfort her family. I had not expected to see Melissa, figuring she would not be allowed visitors outside the family. However, I was allowed to see her, and her mother specifically asked that I go and pray for her.

I went into the Intensive Care Unit where Melissa’s bed was. I talked to Melissa and asked if I could pray for her. She said she would appreciate it, and I prayed for her. I have a CD by Casting Crowns and one of the songs is a narrative of a person asking God to give him words to speak.  His friend is dying and instead of sharing Jesus, he lets fear move him into talking about the weather again. I have loved, listened, and been effected by this song for over a year. When I met with Melissa in the hospital, I had just learned how to share the gospel and was sharing it with strangers. I knew I could not walk out of her room without attempting to share the gospel.

I said, “I am dying to ask you two questions.” (I almost stopped right there because of the stupid way I began my presentation. Do not use the word dying improperly when talking to a patient in ICU). She said I could ask my questions. She answered the EE diagnostic questions in a way that lead me to believe she was not saved. I then asked permission to share the gospel, and she allowed me to share. I shared the gospel and finally asked her for a commitment. The nurse asked me to leave, because visiting hours were over (not because I was sharing gospel). I am sure Melissa is still not saved, but I did lead her brother to Christ a few weeks later. I now do a Bible study in her mother’s house where she currently lives. She has not joined us, but I will continue to pray and will talk to her again about the gospel.

I have shown you that you can mess up and still share the gospel. I have shown you that you can lead even those who know your worst sins to Christ. The power is in the seed, not the sower. The Word of God, spoken or read, works with the Holy Spirit to bring salvation to every creature that trusts in the work Christ did.

My next example is proof of that. I thought sharing the gospel with my family would be the hardest. A few months after speaking with Melissa in the hospital, I started thinking about how hard it would be to share the gospel with my ex-wife. It would be difficult to speak to her without her thinking I wanted to change her into a better person. I was on the way to her house to pick up my oldest boys when that familiar, quiet voice let me know I would share with her that day. At first, I begged God to send another messenger. Then, realizing that He had chosen me for this, I begged Him to give me the words and attitude that would not be condescending to her. I begged that He prepare her heart to understand and receive the words.

My wife and I had been praying for my ex-wife’s salvation, protection, and for God to draw her and her husband to Himself if they were already saved. I realize now that God had sent someone to share the gospel with them, but that person had remained quiet for almost two years. To make a long story short, my ex-wife made a profession of faith that day.

On my way home, I just started crying. One reason for my tears was I had come to Christ while I was still married to my ex, and I did not do the most important thing a husband should do: share and show Christ to his wife. The second reason I cried was because God allowed me to fix one of the mistakes I had made in that relationship by telling my ex-wife about the true gospel. The third reason for my outpouring of emotion was I had reason to believe my oldest boys will see their mom in heaven one day, and they will not have to worry about her salvation.

Skate Board for One

Skate Board for One Million Dollars.

Sunday November the 6th I met some kids skateboarding at a park in Jasper. Why was I in Jasper? I had went there to visit the a local church that a good friend of mine attends. Part of the reason was to make up for not being able to attend a function he had invited me to earlier. Part of the reason was to visit him and his family because I love them and like to be around them. However the major reason is because my parents live in Jasper. I was hoping that by taking their grandchildren to a church out there they might join us.

I look for any excuse I can to get my mom and dad to visit a church. Not because you have to go to a church to become a Christian or stay a Christian, but because I have shared the gospel with both and at this time I believe they are not saved. I was hoping that by getting them to church, that they would hear God’s word more and from someone else. Hoping they would be more accepting if it was from some other than their son.

Well to get to the story, I was walking around the park with that friend I had mentioned. My children was with us as well. His wife and Ginger were not present at the park with us. We walked around talking about family, church, evangelism, etc..  We came upon some kids with skateboards outside the recreational center. They had came over to use the bathroom, since skateboarding is not allowed at the center.

I only had one tract, a million dollar bill, so I decided to go back and continue our conversation. I told my friend that I wish had the “pink and blue” illusion tract to open a conversation with the boys. As we were walking away I decided I could not walk away from them without at least trying. So I said to my boys and Richard, “come one lets go to were those kids are.”

We walked up and I started talking to them about skateboarding. I asked them if they though the could grind the rail going down the stairs. I quickly added that I was not asking them to break the rules by showing me, was just interested if they could. We talked for a minute about what they could do. I then pulled out the million dollar bill and asked them if they had ever seen one of these. One of the kids said, “I will sell you my skateboard for a million dollars!”

I told them I only had one but wanted to give it to one of them. I told them I prefer giving it to a good person. I asked if any of them were good. They said to give it to him, pointing at Seth, out of us he would be your choice for one that is most good. I Seth if that was true. He said compared to his friends it was true.

I said, do you mind if I ask you a few questions to see if it’s true. He said sure. I went on to ask Seth, and then the others, if they had ever lied, stolen, used God’s name in vain, and honored their parents. It turns out that all of them had broken at least two three of the Ten Commandments. I asked Seth if he would be innoncent or guilty if he was judged by those standards. He said guilty. I then asked the rest and they agreed they would be guilty as well. I asked, “would you go to heaven or hell?”

They said hell. I asked if it concerned them. They agreed that going to hell concerned them. I asked if they knew what God did so they would not have to go to hell? I went on to give them the parachute illustration for trusting in Christ, they courtroom illustration for their fine being paid even though they were guilty.

I asked them if they had Bibles and they did. I told them to read the first couple chapters of John, and to think about what we had talked about. I reminded them that I was concerned about them and they need to be as well.






You may be thinking you could have not done that, because you know nothing about skateboarding. I know nothing about skateboarding, but the kids I was talking to did. All I had to do was ask them a couple questions about their favorite subjects, themselves and skateboarding.

If you will take genuine interest in people and what they like, opportunities to witness as a friend will open up to you.

Oh, my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the Church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected. -Oswald J. Smith  

The Wrong Door

The Wrong Door
By Ginger Reeves

I went to my EE (Evangelism Explosion) class as usual this week.  We were supposed to go share the Gospel with the mother of a friend of my trainer.  We went to what we thought was the right address but our knock was answered by a gruff and very non-motherly voice saying, “Go away!”  We looked at each other and Rusty said, “I think we have the wrong apartment.”

A young man answered the door and Rusty, who was obviously taken back by a young man and not an older woman answering, said that we were in the area doing religious surveys and asked if we could ask him a few questions.  The young man invited us in and introduced himself as Russell.

We started the survey and were then invited to sit down.  As we continued asking Russell questions a friend of his arrived, waved a brief hello to Rusty and I and went to the back.  Rusty continued the survey and stumbled pretty badly.  He missed some of the examples and did not use the proper transition sentences.  Once I realized he wasn’t sticking to the presentation as we had learned it, I started praying the God would clear his mind and give him the words he needed and that this young man would hear the Truth, regardless of Rusty’s presentation.  

Russell did want to receive the gift of eternal life so we prayed for him that he would receive assurance and repentance.  When Rusty asked him if he had a Bible, Russell said he needed to show us something.  Now this young man had some racy photo’s on his wall and a stack of “men’s” magazines on his end table so I was a bit nervous about what he was about to show us.  But he walks across the room and picks up this brand new looking Bible.  He was walking to work last week and passed the dumpster behind his building and saw this Bible in a Lifeway bag.  He picked it up and carried it to work and showed it to his friend, the one in the back of the apartment.  Rick, the friend, told him that God was trying to tell something and he needed to listen up!

Rick then comes out of the back and sits down and talks with us.  He is a believer and goes to a local church.  We don’t invite him to our church as not to steal someone else’s sheep, but we do invite Russell to church, Sunday school, Wednesday night dinner and Sunday night Bible study.  Rick says that sounds really great and he would be interested in coming also.  He has a 16 year old that is “riding the fence” so he wants to go where there is a good youth group.

We spent an hour talking with these two men about God, repentance, religion, church, Sunday school, and forgiveness.  They may or may not come to our church, that’s not the point.  The point is we did what we were supposed to do and maybe we did get the wrong apartment, or maybe we did not.  All I know is one young man will now spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus and another got some encouragement and got to see what we are all called to do.  

The Wrong Door

The Wrong Door
By Ginger Reeves

I went to my EE (Evangelism Explosion) class as usual this week.  We were supposed to go share the Gospel with the mother of a friend of my trainer.  We went to what we thought was the right address but our knock was answered by a gruff and very non-motherly voice saying, “Go away!”  We looked at each other and Rusty said, “I think we have the wrong apartment.”

A young man answered the door and Rusty, who was obviously taken back by a young man and not an older woman answering, said that we were in the area doing religious surveys and asked if we could ask him a few questions.  The young man invited us in and introduced himself as Russell.

We started the survey and were then invited to sit down.  As we continued asking Russell questions a friend of his arrived, waved a brief hello to Rusty and I and went to the back.  Rusty continued the survey and stumbled pretty badly.  He missed some of the examples and did not use the proper transition sentences.  Once I realized he wasn’t sticking to the presentation as we had learned it, I started praying the God would clear his mind and give him the words he needed and that this young man would hear the Truth, regardless of Rusty’s presentation.  

Russell did want to receive the gift of eternal life so we prayed for him that he would receive assurance and repentance.  When Rusty asked him if he had a Bible, Russell said he needed to show us something.  Now this young man had some racy photo’s on his wall and a stack of “men’s” magazines on his end table so I was a bit nervous about what he was about to show us.  But he walks across the room and picks up this brand new looking Bible.  He was walking to work last week and passed the dumpster behind his building and saw this Bible in a Lifeway bag.  He picked it up and carried it to work and showed it to his friend, the one in the back of the apartment.  Rick, the friend, told him that God was trying to tell something and he needed to listen up!

Rick then comes out of the back and sits down and talks with us.  He is a believer and goes to a local church.  We don’t invite him to our church as not to steal someone else’s sheep, but we do invite Russell to church, Sunday school, Wednesday night dinner and Sunday night Bible study.  Rick says that sounds really great and he would be interested in coming also.  He has a 16 year old that is “riding the fence” so he wants to go where there is a good youth group.

We spent an hour talking with these two men about God, repentance, religion, church, Sunday school, and forgiveness.  They may or may not come to our church, that’s not the point.  The point is we did what we were supposed to do and maybe we did get the wrong apartment, or maybe we did not.  All I know is one young man will now spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus and another got some encouragement and got to see what we are all called to do.  

Why are we to share

Why are we to share the Gospel?
Ginger Reeves

Last year when my mother got sick, my husband brought my two stepchildren to see her and say good-bye.  They were visibly upset; they loved their “Cookie” very much.  I explained that they should not be upset, they would see her again some day since we know her to be a Christian and Walker and Matthew are as well.  Franklin used this as a great opportunity to explain why it is so important to share the Gospel with those we love.  He said that if we love them, we should share the Gospel with them so we can see them again in Heaven and they too can be with Jesus.  This seemed to comfort them a great deal.  

However, it also got me thinking that if we share the Gospel with those we love what about the woman at the grocery store or the man sitting next to us at work or our neighbor down the street from us?  The Bile tells us to “ 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31)  Therefore, by this, we should love our neighbors and want to share the gospel with them.  We love them and as I have already stated we share the Gospel with those we love so they can be with Jesus and we can see them again in Heaven.  Right?

Ok, our neighbors, but what about the woman at the grocery store or the man at work?  Author, J.I. Packer, in his book Evangelism & The Sovereignty of God says  “…that any fellow human being whom you meet who is in need is your neighbour; God has put him there so that you may help him: and your business is to show yourself neighbour to him by doing all that you can to meet his need, whatever it may be.”  He goes on to say, “And that principle applies to all forms of need, spiritual no less than material.  So that when we find ourselves in contact with men and women who are without the Christ, and so face spiritual death, we are to look on them as our neighbours in the sense,…”.

We can surmises from this that we are to share the Gospel with everyone, not just our friends and family or just co-workers and cashiers, but with everyone we meet.  After all, isn’t that what God commanded? (Mark 16:15)

Court orders free speech out of bounds

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ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND NEWS RELEASE October 14, 2005 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020

Court orders free speech out of bounds on its own steps

ADF attorneys file suit against California judge who declared all public areas of Los Angeles County courthouses “no speech zones”

LOS ANGELES — Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund filed a federal civil rights lawsuit today against a California Superior Court judge who declared all public areas of Los Angeles County courthouses “no speech zones.”

“The courts are supposed to be protecting our First Amendment rights, not suppressing them,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Mike Johnson. “This judge’s order is a constitutional travesty and has already forced our clients and other law-abiding citizens from engaging in classic, ordinary free speech.”

ADF attorneys represent best-selling author and TV co-host Ray Comfort and Pastor Emeal Zwayne, two Christian ministers who have been peacefully sharing their faith most mornings for the last 2-1/2 years outside of the Los Angeles County courthouse in Bellflower. For 20 minutes each morning, Comfort and Zwayne talk with persons waiting outside before the courthouse opens for the day. They have never caused any disturbance for the court or for uninterested persons.

Because of the court’s “no speech zone” order, police officers removed the two men from a walkway outside of the courthouse on Sept. 30 and told them not to return.

According to the complaint filed today, the general order issued Sept. 13 by Judge William MacLaughlin “prohibits such free speech activities as picketing, distribution of literature, and demonstration. The ban requires even an individual prospective speaker to get a permit but fails to provide any objective criteria or time restrictions governing the granting of a permit.”

“Our clients have been peaceably speaking on the courthouse steps for years. Now a judge has proclaimed a sudden and sweeping crackdown on free speech. A courthouse is the last place you’d expect to find a restriction on an American’s First Amendment rights,” said Johnson. “We expect that the federal court will see the obvious problems with Judge MacLaughlin’s order and declare it unconstitutional.”

The full text of the complaint filed today in the case Comfort v. MacLaughlin in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California can be read at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/ComfortComplaint.pdf

ADF is a national legal alliance defending our first liberty--religious freedom--through strategy, training, funding and litigation. http://www.telladf.org/

Counting the Costs

Counting the Costs in Evangelism I can’t begin to count the number of Christians that I have talked to since I started sharing my faith with others. There have been different opinions on what should be said and how the Gospel should be presented, but there is always one common thread. Every Christian that I have talked to does believe that “someone” should be telling the lost about Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, when that is compared to the number of Christians that I have spoke with that actually share their faith, I have seen a massive variance. Why do other Christians hesitate to share the Good News? It’s evident to me that most have counted the cost of evangelism and have decided that cost is to great. They choose to engage in other activities with a lower cost.

What does evangelism cost us? It can cost us our friends, as they may be uncomfortable or convicted by your service to the Lord. It may cost you your family for the same reasons. It will probably cost you money, as materials are not always free. It will most certainly cost you your pride, your coolness, and maybe even your name in the community or at work. Suddenly you will go from being “one of the guys/girls” to being referred to as one of those “Jesus Freaks”. No doubt that if you share your faith consistently you will be mocked, laughed at, spit upon, rejected and cast out from worldly groups.

What a tremendous cost you may be thinking. You realize that it is important to share your faith, but not sure if it is worth all of this.

First, consider this. If you had $100.00 it would be valuable to you. You wouldn’t want to lose it or give it away….you may need it for something. On the other hand, if you gave it to a missionary in Africa would that money be more valuable in their hands? There would be no question that it would be much more valuable than if you had used it for yourself.

Just like the $100.00, our own “costs” are much more valuable when we give them to the Lord for His use. No one realized this better than Paul. In Philippians 1:12-14 Paul said, 12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[a] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
Paul’s costs were greater than most of us will ever face. Paul’s costs for preaching Christ were beatings, stoneings, and in this scripture passage, his freedom. Paul didn’t whine about how much these things cost him, he knew that the costs were better spent by the Lord. He knew that though his costs were great, that the gospel was being furthered even by his suffering in prison.

Around 150,000 people leave this earth every day. How many do you think that are not saved? One fourth? Half? Even if it was just one what is it worth to you for that person not to have to spend eternity in Hell? Would it be worth even more if that person were a family member or a close friend? What costs are you willing to pay to save them?

The truth is this. As a Christian, we shouldn’t be considering the costs at all in evangelism. As children of God we aren’t to consider and ponder over our Father’s commands. We are to obey God’s word when we are told to “Go and preach the Gospel”. Paul continued to do that in the face of enormous costs, but he didn’t count them, he just did as his father told him. Do we do the same? Are we faithful each and every time that God calls us to speak?

I pray that we all stop counting the costs in sharing our faith and simply be obedient to the Lord.

This article was written by another seed sower, Tony, and is posted here with his permission.

Atheist views on evangelism.

You read the orgional post using the link below.
http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=MikeDavis&tab=weblogs&uid=295971170


Friday, July 01, 2005
I'm not sure how controversial this post will be, or is. But It has the potential to be. Thats for sure. The taboo issues are religion, politics, and sex. And religion is probably the most controversial of all of them. And I am about to touch that issue. So...dont read it if you think you might be offended. And if I get hate mail from this post....its your own fault for reading it, not mine for posting it.

Question:
I have heard may Christains who say something like:
"I am a Christain, but it's my choice, and I don't believe anyone should try to push Christainity on anyone else. I don't think thats a nice thing to do. We should let people believe what they want to believe."
This view is very tolerant. It is very multicultural. But I have a question.
Most people who know me well, know that I am not a Christian. Most people are fine with that, especially in the college community, because people are tolerant like that.
But: Most people who are Christains also hold the view that if you do not believe Christ died on the cross for your sins, and that if you do not accept him as your personal saviour - you will go to hell.
So - while trying to be nice, by not pushing your views on people...you are allowing them to go to hell for all eternity. Wouldn't it be better to violate some friendship, to push the envelope and maybe be a bit intolerant if you knew that trying to get them to convert would save their eternal lives?
Are you really doing me a service by being "nice" and not trying to convert me?
It seems the nicer thing to do, if you truly believe that I am d**ned to hell for eternity if I don't change soon, is to be a bit pushy - and try to challenge me to change my views.


I say this not because i think you will be successful in such an endeavor, but because I think you might be compromising your own belief system. If you really do think you are right, I think you should take own thoughts seriously, and think about the true implications.
For example, if I were a Christian: I would see many people each day who I knew were not Christains, and thus were not going to Heaven. I would have to ask myself which is the nicer thing to do. Should I be nice in the short term and let them continue to be wrong and avoid confrontation. Or should I confront them and hope to God that I can put them on the right track.
Just food for thought. You are probably thinking right now, why the hell is an Atheist trying to convince me to try and convert him. The answer: because I like to see people take their beliefs seriously instead of half-heartedly. I think that if people truly believe in something, they should follow it's rules. If they don't, it seems hypocytical.
The Bible says: "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" - Mark 16:15
If you feel like you are being judgemental when you try to convince someone that their religion is wrong, or that they need to be a Christain then I ask you: Arent you supposed to be judgemental? After all the Bible says:
"For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" - 1 Peter 4:17
If the reason you do not try to share your religion with others is that you think people will brush you off, and call you a "bible-thumper" then I have another question for you: Shouldn't you be proud to be a bible thumper?
The Bible says:
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.- Romans 1:16
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."- Mark 8:34-38
But I don't think most Christians preach. Are you intentionally disobeying the word of God? Ask yourself: Are you really taking your religion seriously? If you are not, shouldn't you?

Madison Street Festival Oct. 1

The young lady doing the good test is not sure if she wants the five dollars. I give her a second chance before giving it to some who is willing to receive it.



This guy belongs to a religion that believes Moses, Jesus, Buddha, and the founder of Islam were sent by aliens as their spoke persons. I was able to use the fact that he believes in the Muslim prophet by explaining the Muslim prophet consider Jesus to be a prophet and they respected the law of Moses. I used that to share the gospel with him and asked if he had kept the Ten commandments.



I shared the gospel with this woman by using the pink and blue illusion. I started by asking if karate really helped with concentration like the sign says. She said yes, so I tested her with the pink and blue. She realized that karate had not prepared her for that yet. I gave them to her along with the illusion tract for working with kids. I asked if she had any, and found out she is carrying twins. I ended up praying for her and the unborn babies. I did share gospel and she was already a Christian.



I found out this gentleman is from Mcalla area. He was on the voluntary fire unit that responded to a trailer fire in the trailer park we lived in over a year ago. I gave him a Hell's Best Kept Secret CD. He already professes to be a believer.



This picture went from giving out tracts to one kid. They all then crowded around so they could each get a Million Dollars. I then picked one and asked the Million Dollar question. I shared the gospel with him, but everyone heard it. Ginger said that two acted like they needed to go somewhere but they kept getting drawn back in to the conversation.

What is missing in Evangelism

What is missing in evangelism?

Love - Loving someone enough to warn him or her of the wrath to come. Rev. 6:16 ,2 Cor. 5:11, Mat. 3:7

Law - The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul...Psalm 19:7.

Law - Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ Gal. 3:24


I am not a professional minister, but I do share the gospel with real people in real situations.



I talk to people about Christ. I do it a few different ways, and none of the ways did I event. I learned from others either through listening, watching, or participating. This means that you to can do the same.

1) Tracts - I give out gospel tracts that are fun to give and receive. People take them and even read them out loud in public places. Therefore, unbelievers have become preachers of the gospel in such places as Taco Bell.



2) 1-2-1's -I share the gospel to individuals, pairs, and occasionally three people at a time. I use four different ways to initiate this process.

a) tract - I say hello to a stranger, give them a gospel tract and depending on the tract I swing from the natural to spiritual. For example one tract is a Million Dollar Bill, I ask them if they have ever been asked the million dollar question? They say no, then I ask them if I can. If the say yes I proceed by asking them if they are a good person or if they are good enough to go to heaven. I have never had anyone offended by this approach. ( I just began using tracts is this way in Sept. 2005 and have shared with more than 20 people these way.)

b)Questionnaire - I learned to share the gospel with Evangelism Explosion. I took in on Thursday mornings so instead of visiting church visitors, we did questionnaires. I have shared 20-40 people this way. No one have been offended and I led two people to a profession of faith Thursday, God has allowed me to watch, help, or lead many to Christ this way.)

c)As I go - As I am talking to friends, relatives, and strangers with no plan to share the gospel, I get this feeling that I need to share the gospel. I try and fight it off, but my strength is waning and have a hard time winning the battle. I shared with a worker in an amusement park and he accepted Christ. This same voice led me to share the gospel with my ex-wife when picking up the kids. She also made a profession of faith.

3) Open Air - This is a new one, I did it twice in August in preparation for an Evangelism Boot Camp in Seattle. I went to the boot camp specifically to see this done by those doing it, and practice it. I have done it over ten times now. It is very hard the first time ( I was anxious from the time I gave in to the Spirit until I jumped up on a park bench, but now I only have to fight thru the fear when I arrive at the location)


Before Jan. 2005 I had only told the gospel to my two oldest boys. This was after washing the Jesus video, and they asked why they were hurting Him.

I took Personal Evangelism in the seminary as part of getting a counseling degree. The Evangelism Explosion way used by the seminary allowed me to learn a gospel presentation, watch someone (while I prayed) share the gospel, and eventually share the gospel with an experienced trainer present to take over if I lost my place. Many times I had to turn to my trainer when I got lost, or a really good objection.

I also became aware of a program called the Way of the Master, www.wayofthemaster.com

Between reading Soul Winner by Spurgeon, getting OJT in sharing the gospel, and learning Hell’s Best Kept Secret from the Way of the Master, I was equipped to share the gospel. I believe that if more churches would equip their members, by OJT(discipleship) in addition to preaching then more members would share the gospel. However many pastors/ministers themselves do not share the gospel, outside the pulpit) and until they learn to do so, and practice it they are not able to equip.

My best friend was saved 4 months ago. He is giving out tracts with me, had done questionnaires, and believes he will be ready to share the gospel vocally one day. I encourage and allow him to help were he is comfortable, and each time his comfort zone stretches.

EBC-& Pics

SideWalk Movie and Jazz Festval

Sidewalk Movie Fest

Hello Friends and Family,

Many of you are aware we went to the Sidewalk Movie Festival Sept. 24th in beautiful downtown Birmingham. I have been asked for an update by some of you and here it is.

The group consisted of Jim(friend from church) Richard and Misty (Friends from Jasper), Ginger, Walker, Matthew, James, and myself. Jim arrived shortly after we did, Richard and Misty had an early morning engagement and joined us around 11:00.

I want to praise God for sending these fellow sowers into the field. I also want to praise God for the Jazz Festival that occurred in the same area on the same day. We caught the film people between showing, but spent most of our time with the Jazz Festival Patrons.

We gave out between 100-140 tracts to people. I estimate that 30-50 of those tracts were given by my 8 year old Matthew. I did one open air at Lynn Park. Approximately 20 people heard the gospel during the open air.

We did numerous 1-2-1’s through out the 4 hour period we spent at the festival. Jim, Ginger, and Matthew made up the first team. Walker, James, and myself made up the second team. It was great passing out tracts and sharing the gospel with my kids. Almost every time I looked around Jim was talking to someone or a group of people. From Just what I saw Jim shared with 7 people and I believe that he shared with at least that many I did not see.

I use the term 1-2-1, but many times that day two-four others were involved. All together between Jim and myself we shared the gospel verbally with 30-40 people.

One of the new things we tried was doing a interview on camera. Jim approached a pedestrian and asked if he could interview him on spiritual matters. The guy okayed it and Richard filmed the exchange. I did the same with two others, one of them used to be one of my students from BellSouth. The problem is that background noise makes it hard to hear the exchange, Jim’s interview turned out the best but hard to hear everything.

The last thing we did was infiltrate a peace rally/anti-war rally/anti-Bush rally. On the way to the van we noticed a peace rally at the Civil Rights Park. I sent Ginger on to the van with Walker (headache), Jim (who needed to leave). Richard, Misty, Matthew, and I went to the peace rally to give out some tracts. I got a chance to share the gospel with a group of teenagers about 5 all together I think.

Results

While I saw a lot of conviction in peoples faces, no one made a profession of faith. In the crowded areas I do not ask for a profession anymore, I just recommend they repent and place their faith in Christ soon. I give them a pocket sized New Testament and ask them to read the first 10 Chapters of John. I learned this lesson in Seattle, even when they say they want to accept the gift of eternal life, people have a hard time praying when their friends are standing there or even worse hundreds of people are walking around us.

Upcoming Events

Madison is having a street festival. Madison is near Huntsville. Oct. 1st

Please pray that God prepare their hearts to understand God’s word.
Pray that God sends His Spirit before us and with us and that He speaks through us.
Pray that God lift up fellow sowers and harvesters.

Oct. 8th

Harvest Festival – Headland Alabama.
Small festival we are praying to see if this festival or the Mobile festival is the one we should go to. I would prefer Mobile because of the Guaranteed large number of people.

BayFest – Mobile

This popular Mobile festival expects 200,00 people to attend. Ginger and I will go down if God provides the resources needed.


Pray that God provide the resources and fellow laborers needed.
Specifically pray for Gas money, food money, entrance fees. It may be possible that we can stay for free with friends that live an hour away.

Entrance Fee – 35$ per person if we take the kids then $140.00
Gas – Depends on price but at least $100.00 to be on safe side
Food – at least $150.00 ( I am sure it will be more, but I will go if we reach this amount)
Tracts - $.10 each. 200 would cost $20.00
Pocket Bibles – $1.25 each. 10 given away would cost $12.50

Therefore, we need $290.00 not counting the cost of tracts or pocket-sized bibles we give away. We already have enough of those I purchased before.

EBC-& update 7

EBC-7 Update 7


One last update covering our Monday activity and my trip home. I will probably talk about evangelism topics such as compassion etc. that will provide more information but this is my last post for EBC-7.

Monday morning we got up and had breakfast once again. After breakfast I retreated to my room to read my Bible reading, I am now in the Psalms and they are real good reading when preparing for spiritual warfare. After my personal Bible time, and prayer time I join the rest of the group.

They had formed a habit of praying for approximately an hour before leaving to witness. I have fallen in love with participating in the prayer meetings. I have never felt so in tune with others praying, I know it is the common goal and passion that is unifying this group. This is one of the two things I have missed most from the Seattle trip.

We could not take the monorail, it is closed. At the bus stop and on the way we are giving out tracts and doping 1-2-1’s. On the bus Bird preached the gospel. The bus driver did stop the bus after a few minutes to ask him to lower his voice. When we got off the bus we witnessed to the people there for about 15-20 minutes.

Once inside the festival area we began giving out tracts, 1-2-1’s, and open air preaching. One of my group, David, wanted to open air but had not done it before. I offered to tag team with him. He drew the crowd and I shared the gospel. I did one other open air that day. Neither one of those times did we have any unusual occurrences. I have yet to get a bad heckler, it could be because I am not praying for one to make the crowd larger. If that is the case, it will be awhile before I get a good heckler. I do not have the courage to pray for one yet, mainly because I know God is faithful and can provide more than I could hope to think or ask. It is the “more than I think to ask” that makes me not want to ask yet.

Heckler’s back side.

One of the other open air guys did get a good heckler. This guy used foul language, jesters, and at the end literally showed his read end. In case you are not aware literally means that some of us unlucky ones got a view of his naked behind. He continually called for people to fornicate, he actually used that word near the end, but used other more crude words in the beginning.

They good news is that he drew a large crowd of teenagers and young adults who I would consider to be Goths. They cheered him own and he had their respect. However what they did not realize that they were being exposed to the gospel. It also painted a stark contrast between our heckler and our preacher. It was like looking at two entirely different worlds. I even used that to ask some kids if the wanted to grow up to be like that man. The sad thing is that most said yes.

The best news is that after all was said and done one of the ladies in our group talked to our heckler. He grabber her hand (his mistake) and she began to talk to him. He started to protest, but she said “Sir I have listened to you for over 20 minutes, and now you are going to listen to me.” He tried to leave but she was now holding his hand. She kept on talking and he looked down. She asked him to look at her so he did so but making a joke of it. What she said next broke him down and stopped his mouth and led to a nice conversation. She said, “I love you, and I am going to be praying for you.” The words themselves only reflected the sincerity and truth in her heart. Our foul mouthed, mooning heckler felt love that day from someone he had offended and insulted just a few minutes earlier.

My Atheist groups

I talked to 2 separate groups of kids after open airs. It was kind of funny that both had three boys. They were atheist but kept asking questions. I had to admit that I could not answer all their questions and did feel bad. They even said since we could not answer all their questions then their blood is on our hands. I had to explain that they will be judged based on their actions and our inability to answer every question they had will not excuse them on the day of judgment. Since then I have thought more about what I could have said, and I will be prepared to offer a little more next time. I, however, believe that pride was they barrier to their faith and not lack of information.

Going Home

I was able to share the gospel with a lady between Spokane and Denver. She ended up being a professing believer and I have no reason to doubt. She had talked to me for probably an hour about her family. She is proud of her sons, and especially her 19 year old son. He is doing well with his work in computers.

After sharing the gospel, she told me her 19 year old did not believe in God. She poured out her heart and soul over her son’s eternal destiny. I was on the verge of crying with her. I told her to keep praying for her son, that God send someone to him that can show him who God is and what Christ did. I then asked her if I could pray for her, and all three of her children. She agreed so I prayed with her. I hope I was able to give her some comfort, and I will continue to pray for her and her son.

Arriving Home

I arrived home to late for my wife to drag the kids out of bed so I took a cab from the airport. Realizing that God was arranging things for me to talk to a car driver, I got my luggage and headed of to get a cab. I did find a cab and the driver was available to take me home. It turned out he was a Muslim. I thought to myself, God is trying to push me way beyond my fears and anxieties tonight.

While trying to decide how to open the subject, or if I would open the subject, my driver asked me a question. Here is the conversation to the best of my memory.



Driver: What do you do for work?
Franklin: I left work to pursue what the Lord has called me to do.
Driver : (not understanding) You are working for your father?
Franklin: I left my job to work for God. I am going to school to learn how to counsel families, husbands/wife and parents/children.
Driver: That is great! (He is smiling ear-to-ear)
Driver: Maybe you can tell me about my friend. He has a beautiful wife, but is cheating on her with an ugly girlfriend, why?
Franklin: Well, it is not that easy to say without more information, but I will take a stab at it. Usually a man does not cheat just for looks. The girlfriend ugly or otherwise might be giving him something his wife is not. Just like women can have their heads turned by a guy showing love, men can have their heads turned by a girl that shows them respect. The Bible commands Men to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and also that women respect their husbands. Neither one is earned nor deserved but commanded by God.
Driver: I see, I see.
Franklin: However that may not be the case here. Even if his wife is not showing respect, he is still sinning by committing adultery. The Law of Moses, given by God, says do not commit adultery.
Franklin: In fact, Jesus said that even to look at a woman with lust is to commit adultery in your heart.
Driver: Yes, Yes that is what I believe too.

I went on to give him the Good Test by asking if if he ever lied, stolen, or used God’s name in vain. I remember he had the first two not sure about the third one. I then explained that “all liars have their part in the lake of fire, no thieves or adulterers will enter the Kingdom of God.” I then explained the Jesus lived a sinless life and took our sins on himself. That we did the crime and Jesus paid the fine.

When all was said and done, he wanted to get together (both of our families) to talk to each other>

P.S.
My driver also asked why people here (Birmingham) went to church on Sunday but the bars on Friday and Saturday. I explained to him that some in the church are hypocrites, pretenders. That they pretend to be Christians on purpose or they falsely believe they are saved. I also explained that even real Christians also make mistakes sometimes.

EBC-7 Update

EBC Update 6



Sunday we where at the park as I mentioned in a previous post. I did my first opne air preaching of the weekend Sunday at the park. It was not the first one I ever did, I did two previously in Birmingham. It was however the first in Seattle, and it would be the first one I did in front of people that have experience doing it. So I had the normal fear and anxiety, added to the not wanting to mess up in front of my peers.

A young man from Mississippi, Wes, also wanted to do his first one that day. We had worked together the previous day on 1-2-1 witnessing and worked well together. We decided to tag team. I would draw the crowd and give the law. He would then give grace. I guess you could say good cop bad cop, or more truthfully bad good then good cop.

One of my fears was that my voice would not carry, people have a hard time hearing me because of projection and volume. My volume actually get worse when I get serious, and I find the gospel to be very serious. I was worried I would not carry very far, and the previous two times in Birmingham I had not carried very far.

When the time came and I jumped up to start drawing a crowd, my voice boomed and startled me. It was like it had not come out of my mouth. The crowd came and we where off to a good start. As I went through some trivia questions, and then selected a contender for the “good person test”, I noticed a Familiar man approaching. I realized that I had seen him the day before when he was loudly heckling the preacher at the Bumpershoot. God being graceful, and due to the prayers of those that recognized him, he did not say a word but sat down a few feet away from me.

After walking the “good person” through the “test” and showing her that I could not give her the money because like the rest of us she was not really all that good, I told her to hold on because Wes might be a little nicer.

Wes jumped up and began to share the concept of grace. He gave the woman the money even though she did not deserve it. He did say and do far more than recorded here. He did a great job, especially they way he handled the previously inactive heckler.

Mr. Heckler jumped up after I got down and walked in front of Wes. Wes calmly stepped forward to the edge of the ledge we where using. This prevented Mr. Heckler from coming between him and the crowd again. Not only did he do it calmly, he did not miss a beat preaching.

Then Mr. Heckler approached Wes trying to get him to move. Another sower placed herself between Wes and Mr. Heckler. She then danced in a semi circle behind Wes with Mr. Heckler. I and other sowers are continuously praying for the situation. Mark, a sower, ended up placing himself behind our female sower and Mr. Heckler because it was looking like he might hurt her. Mr. Heckler asked Mark if he knew what martial arts was, then lifted his foot in the air, kind of like a Karate Kid pose. Mark stepped closer, but staying clam and nice.


Mr. Heckler then slinks off, and Wes finishes just a few minutes later. This was another situation where the Christian showed gentleness (strength under control) to someone that was obviously sent by the enemy to distract and cause havoc.

Know for the best news. The Lady that I went through the “good person test” with, talked to our team leader afterwards. The actions by Mr. Heckler was used to show her how much someone did not want her and others to hear the message. She placed her faith and trust in Christ that day.

That day in the park, I talked to people and did share 1-2-1 but it felt off most of the day. I felt like I was not doing enough, that I was failing. Looking back I realized that it was teaching me that the number of people is not as important as the love and time I give each one. Every time I looked around I would see a seed sower talking to someone, many times for 30minutes or even an hour. I saw people praying together and I saw one of the shyest most reserved people I have ever met talking to more than 1 or 2 strangers that day.

I thank God for my time in the park. He gave my soul great comfort seeing that others were in the fight. I also found comfort that when I did not immediately respond the nudge to go and talk to someone another sower took my place. Along with the comfort that God will use someone else when I do not respond, I also was convicted to listen harder and respond quicker when God directed me to someone.

EBC update 5

EBC -7 update 5



Saturday we went to the Bumper Shoot, as noted in a previous post. Sunday we spent the day at the waterfront near Pike Place Fish Market.

We had around 6 or 7 teams. Two of the teams, one of which I was on, went to a little park that overlooked the water. If you are on Pike street looking at Pike Place Fish Market and turned right, walked to where the street converges with two others, turned left, crossed street, you would be in the park.

The park layout consisted of a main walkway entrance. It was wide enough for 1.5 cars. A van was parked on the walkway when we first got their. It held equipment for a group that was setting up a tent.

The main walkway ended in a T. To the left was a covered area, and it wrapped back around to the street. To the right it went a couple city blocks and then turned back to the street.

We where going there to open air, do 1-2-1’s, and give out tracts. The leader of our sister team was considering leaving and going elsewhere. The reason was that the tent and van belong to the Church of Scientology. We where there for training and witnessing not debating. He talked to some gentlemen to see if it was okay to go back to Pike Street and do open air there. However, the final decision was to stay. I do have to mention that when we initially walked past the scientologist, one of them said “Here comes a bunch of Paul’s” It was interesting that in area that is largely un-churched they would recognize a bunch of Paul’s.

I am going to do two posts on Sunday, I am going to focus this one on our scientology encounters. We never mentioned them in our preaching, and I am unaware if it came up in any 1-2-1’s. We left them alone, and they did not bother us. However, we did have some 1-2-1 encounters with some of them. All of them cordial, and two of them funny.

Stress Test

They where offering a free stress test among other things. It was their draw to talk to people. One of our guys, my 16 year old room mate, decided to take the stress test. I know because I thought about doing, and when I looked over there he was taking it. I prayed for him, and asked a few others to lift him up and use it to witness to the Scientologist “minister”. I did comment that they would be hard pressed to find any stress in him, he looked so relaxed he could have been asleep.

My roommate told me what happened later. He was able to figure out how to make their machine show stress and not show stress. He was totally relaxed and after a series of question the guy asked him what stressed him out. My room mate told him that hell stressed him out as he manipulated the machine to make it show stress. The guy asked him what exactly about hell caused him stress. My fellow sower of seeds said, “the though of all these people going to hell.” The “minister” asked what takes the stress away. The seed sower said something along the lines of, the stress leaves when I remember that Jesus died so they could escape hell if they would trust in Him. The seed sower then relaxed the stress meter so it showed him calm again. They did this for a long time, and the “minister” kept trying to adjust knobs on his machine to fix the problem it was having.

My fellow seed sower, said that they guy’s face started showing fear as he began to realize he was not in control, and that God had fouled his machine up.



The guy that started these boot camps showed up with his team later. He also wanted to check his stress. He did not come with us, so they did not know he was with our group. He walks up and begins talking to the guy. The “minister” says to our leader,” I feel weird around you.” Our leader says, “that is because light and dark cannot be together. You are the dark and I have the light in me.” Our leader then asks the “minister”, “Can I still get a stress test?” The “minister” says, “no”. Our leader responds “Do you mind if I just sit here?” The response was no.

The other experience was not nearly as comical or interesting. I saw another one of our team talking to one of the “ministers.” He talked to him for a long time. I heard this minister ask our seed sower to walk with to get something to eat so they can continue talking.

While no debates or fights occurs, these “ministers” heard the gospel from the open air preachers at least 15 times that day. They came face to face to the face with this realization, He that is in us, is stronger than He that is in them. They had weird feelings, incredible machine malfunctions, and genuine love and caring showed to them. I would not be surprised if some of these “ministers” deny their faith due to a bunch of Paul’s.

I will tell some more of what happened that day in the park, but this had to be told first. I could not tell our park story with out mentioning them and I could not do those events justice with just a few lines.


P.S. Please pray that God sends people to water those seeds sown. That He helps them take root and grow to trees that bear fruit.

EBC Update number 4

EBC Seattle Update 4

Sorry it took so long. I was going to post from hotel but they charged more than I was willing to pay for internet service. I also did not have time to be honest.

Woke up Saturday around 6am. Had breakfast then went back to room to pray and read scripture. I joined the rest of the group around 8:15 in the meeting room. They had been praying for 15 minutes. We started each day with prayer usually lasting an hour. After the prayer session, we got some tips on using tracts to start a 1-2-1 witness.

We left the hotel around 10:00 and headed for the monorail. We all passed out tracts along the way. One of the team did an open air on the monorail. It was cool. Of course some people where not happy and asked him to basically shut up, but he kept going.

We got to the bumber shoot and split up in teams. My team of 5 and a leader worked with another team of 5. We split up into two's just as the disciples did. This provides protection and allows encouragement. I was teamed up with a 21 year-old college student the first day.

He started the first conversation and shared the gospel with a gentleman named Pepper. Pepper had a friend named Andrew that was in and out, so he heard it as well. Pepper asked those vital questions about the people on a remote Island in the Land of the Lost that had not heard about Christ. We talked to him and his friend for about 30mn-hour.

Wes and I ended up talking to different people after lunch. We stayed within a few feet of each other while doing it. The first major witness I did was with Eric who is in the Army, I found out the Wes was witnessing to his friend Blaze just a few feet away. He let me ask him the million dollar question. "Are you good enough to go to heaven?" I do not remember what he said, but I asked him if I could ask him a few questions to see if he was a good person.

I used the Law of the Lord which is perfect for converting the soul. (Psalm 19:7). He showed sign of conviction so I told him what God did so that he would not have to go to hell. He did want to trust in Christ but He would not pray as thousand of people walked around us. I encouraged him to read the first 10 chapter of John, and settle this soon. Using the same method I was able to witness to Eric, Hayden and two of her friends, and some other people whose names are escaping me right now. The theme through out though was that either they would continue to deny the existence of God, or they would come under conviction but would not pray in the crowd to receive Christ.

I am not overly worried about praying to receive Christ. They can do that themselves, if they did understand that they need Christ to forgive their sins, they will not rest until they have placed their trust in Him.

Around 3 or 4 we began open air preaching. We wanted to get a feel for what the authorities thought first. It was a public place and the 1st Amendment in still on the books, but we also where not going to fight over it.


I was able to see about 4 or 5 different open air session Saturday evening and night. Also had a couple good hecklers that made the crowd larger. I will explain how we drew the crowd in a later post. We did have two really bad hecklers, I am going to talk about one now. Instead of just disagreeing or shouting (he did do that also) he was walking arou8nf with tarot cards and getting close to the open air guy. Getting in his face, but the stool does tend to keep them away. The guy looked rough and freaky.

I prayed, (as other where doing that was with us) that he would get saved, calm down, not be a threat, or go away. When a man walked up and started talking to him. He then engaged that man because of what he said. This man showed up two days later, his name was Jack, and took another heckler or two out by engaging them in conversation with him. I found out later that Jack has a Doctorate of Divinity and is a master of apologetics. Praise God that he was there and intervened. I also praise God that he held off until the heckler had done his part in taking a small to medium crowd into a medium or even large crowd.

We where originally going to leave between 5 and 6 pm to go back to hotel, but decided that to many people where there that needed to know Jesus. We stayed another couple of hours then headed back.

P.S. The monorail music was too loud on the way back to open air, I guess they new we where coming back.
The officials of the event ended up asking myself and a few others to not pass out tracts, but feel free to do open air and 1-2-1 is what she told me.

EBC 3rd update.

EBC 3rd update


Hi,

I am in my hotel in Seattle now. I am about to shower and join the rest of the people for dinner and briefing.

On the plane into Spokane I sat between Debbie and Kyle. I talked to Kyle before take off and found out a little about him. He is attending college in Seattle, Majoring in Media.

I discovered Debbie is from Virginia and traveling to Spokane to visit her daughter. She is a little heard of hearing, and I also tend to speak softly so I was reluctant to witness to her.

Kyle ended up with his hood over his head, listening to music through an Ipod. Debbie appeared asleep. I decided to write my previous post. I did try an witness to Debbie but her initial response let me know she was not interested in spiritual things.

Kyle pretty much stayed bundled up for the flight. I did give him a tract after landing.

I went to the bathroom and saw the flight attendants working on some number puzzles. I showed them the optical illusions tract and gave them each one. They responded well.







I got off the plane headed to my next plane which was not scheduled to leave until 5pm. It was a standby since my real plane was not leaving until 8pm. I walked past a boarding area that had a plane for Seattle leaving at 1:50. I hung around until they began boarding and asked the guy if he could get me on it.

I offered him a new crisp clean million dollar bill. It was not a bribe since it was not real, and he had already got me on the flight.

I sat by myself on that flight, but did give the flight attendant a tract on the way out. My driver in Seattle had a Christian background, but it was Catholic. I was not ready for that one but we did talk a little.

I will post later, keep praying for us.

EBC Update 2

EBC-7 2nd update

Thank you for those who have prayed for my flight plans.

My scheduled flight from Birmingham to Denver was scheduled to leave at 2:37pm. The 8:05 flight I was standing by for was over booked. However, after all the other passengers boarded, I was called to the desk and given a seat.

My scheduled Denver to Spokane flight will be leaving at 5:15pm Denver time. I was standing by for an 11:53am flight. It was also overbooked. I was called up to get a boarding pass minutes before boarding. Praise God.

I ask that you continue to pray I get the first available flight from Spokane to Seattle. It is important I get there in time for the 7pm meeting. So far God has opened the doors in impossible situations to bring me this far.

Evangelism in Denver

Between terminals, I stopped to get something to eat. Domino’s was the most appealing choice in the area I was stopped at. I talked to the cashier a little, and I left him with an Intelligence Test for the Thinking Person. It ask some tricky questions and one of them is How can a man who lied, stolen, murdered in his hear, committed adultery in his heart escape hell. It is second to last question, and the answers are on the backside of the quiz. What do you think the answer is?

I arrived at the terminal, plugged in my laptop to recharge the batteries. I also posted the last message. While my laptop was charging, and I was posting I began talking to a young man setting next to me. I had asked him how he was doing before I started posting, but it took him a few minutes to wake up (mentally zoned).

He shared with me he had just left boot camp. Actually, I had not asked how he was doing, I had asked if he was in the military. He had a brown envelope with his last name on it, just like one I had once upon a time. The lack of much hair, not balding like mine, but cut short.

I talked to him for around 15-30minutes. I probably do not have to mention that a quite voice began admonishing me. I finished my post, turned off the laptop so Icould focus on him. He is having problems with his knee and passing his physical fitness tests in the military.

I finally obey the voice, and ask him if I can ask him a couple of personal questions. He gave me permission so I asked a question to diagnose if he had assurance he was going to heaven. He was sure.


I then asked him a question to determine what he was trusting in for salvation. He was trusting in God’s love. Between the questions I had alreadys asked if I could share with how I knew I would go to heaven. He said okay so I was able to proceed into sharing the gospel with him.

He later said he was trusting in Jesus. I do use anecdotes to help him see the difference between trusting in Jesus and intellectual assent to the fact Jesus is the Son of God. He believes he is saved and since he did not try and argue a works based answer I had accept his word for it.

We talked for a little while. He asked me what about the 2 day old babies that die, do they go to heaven. He also talked about seeing people auras, having the ability to dream about future things. He says his powers are underdeveloped but he is considering finding a teacher to help him develop his natural abilities. The abilities we all have locked away.

I suggested that he read his bible. I suggested not looking into advancing his abilities. He said they where comingout with a new bible,a complete bible with all the missing books. I suggested he study the one he has thoroughly before checking out new ones.

It was very hard to try to find a non attacking way of saying, “you are playing into the devil’s hand”, “or these powers you seek will open you up to demonic attack.”

The important thins is I shared God truth and the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is really the only thing I can do. God has to open his eyes, and give understanding. Please pray for the young man. I will not post his name here, but God know who he is.

I am going to have to go, I am seating between two people. I have already said hello, but I have to attempt to share the gospel before landing. I do not want to bother them, but is it really bothering someone when you share the only way that they can avoid eternal punishment in a lake of fire where the worm does not dies, and the fire is not quenched. A place of gnashing teeth and utter darkness.

P.S. It is Hell not a Christless eternity, or eternal separation from God.

EBC-7 Update

Good Morning Alabama,

I am currently a few thousand feet in the air on my way to Seattle Washington. I will not be able to post this until I land in Denver, but if I do not take the time to write this update now I will forget to do it. If I could remember to do it later, I would remember any details.

Background

In case you are unaware, I am going to Seattle to participate in a 4 day evangelistic outreach. Seattle was chosen, more than likely, because of a major festival they are having this weekend. The official title for the outreach is Evangelism Boot Camp hosted by GNN. GNN has invited 75 people to practice handing out tracts, 1-2-1 witnessing, and open air preaching.

The main reason I am attending is to watch, learn, and practice open air preaching. Four months ago, I was at 5pts South and had a strange though go through my mind. I wondered what it would be like to jump up on a park bench and preach the gospel. I quickly shook my head to clear that nasty thought, and continued doing 1-2-1 evangelism with friends, relatives, and strangers.

As the months went by, the crazy thought kept recurring. Eventually I decided to give in and try it. Around a month ago, I stood up at 5 Points south and preached for the first time. A week later, I repeated the incident. I will go over details on those in a different post.

I learned to share the gospel using Evangelism Explosion. I incorporated part of the Way of the Master technique, specifically using the Law to bring about conviction in those that where sure they could earn their way to heaven. I learned of the Evangelism Boot Camps from http://www.wayofthemaster.com/ and had wrestled with attending. Once I submitted to following God’s plan for me to open air preach I decided I had to go. There is no other group I know of that does open air, especially holding true to the entire Gospel. I am not saying others are not using scripture, I mean they have forsaken God’s Law as the schoolmaster to bring sinners to Christ. The Holy Spirit guided the Psalmist in recording “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul…”(Psalm 19:7) and yet we chose to remove the Law from evangelism. The Holy Spirit once again guided Paul in teaching us “the law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith” (Gal. 3:24) and we have chosen to banish the schoolmaster from our evangelism classrooms.


Praises and Prayer

I was unable to get a flight that arrived by the beginning of the “mandatory” first session. I went to the airport early and am trying to fly standby. At this minute I am onboard a flight to Denver. My orgional flight was to leave at 2:37pm I was able to catch the 8:05 flight thanks to God and those who prayed He would allow me to leave earlier.

During the check-in and arranging to fly standby, I was able to meet a very nice lady named Melissa. She was working the counter at United and was very diligent in arranging an earlier flight. The last time I flew the check in person tracked my group down because we had to not left a tip. Not wanting to be embarrassed again I asked her if she was allowed to take tips. She was unable to take a tip. I told her if she could not take a tip, then I was going to have to give her a million dollar bill. She was excited to take the million dollar bill. I informed her a million dollar question was on the back on the bill and left her to read it when she had a chance.
At the second check point, the one before the x-ray, I had my ID and boarding pass checked by a nice lady. While she was checking things out a gave her partner a million dollars. The lady helping me was upset she had not received her million, so I pulled out my last one (on me) and gave it to her.

Shortly after take off I had to make a restroom visit. I noticed a couple kids while I was waiting. When I finished I stopped and showed their mom the “optical illusion tract”. I gave it to her to play with the kids, and told her the instructions where on the back. The instructions tell how to use the card, explains our eyes plays tricks but we would not sell them for great sums of money. This starts in the natural the eyes, and then goes into spiritual things by quoting what Jesus said about the eyes, and then proceeds into the gospel.

I had another illusion tract and I shared it with the flight attendant. She thought it was cool, I gave it to her. She glanced at the instructions and gave it back quickly.

I praise God for using is loyal servants to provide the airline tickets, money for the tracts, food, etc... on this trip.

I praise God for making the way for me to fly out of B’ham on an early flight.

I am currently still scheduled to arrive at the same time in Seattle.

I need you to pray that in Denver I can get an earlier flight onto Seattle.

I need you to lift up my wife and children to God. Pray that he protect them from physical harm and spiritual attack.
I need you to ask God to give me boldness to proclaim the gospel.

Ask God to give me the wisdom to know what exactly needs to be said.

Pray that God prepare the hearts and minds of those in Seattle (and along the way) to listen and understand the gospel.

Please lift up all the participants in the Evangelism Boot Camp in the same way, and any other prayers or request God might place in your heart.

Thank You for your support.


P.S.
I hope to make updates during my airport stops, and then at least once a day. Please check back frequently.

Seattle EBC-7

I am leaving for Seattle Washington Friday Sept. 2nd 2005.

The purpose of the trip is to participate in an Evangelism Boot Camp. A group of 75 people will converge on Seattle and share the gospel one-2-one, open air preaching, and by giving out tracts. The main reason I am going is to practice open air preaching. Having others show me how they do it and analyzing my presentation will help me do a better job serving the Lord.



For more information got to GNN's website. http://www.thegreatnews.com/ebc.html


Please pray that I have boldness of speech, and that God prepares the hearts and minds of those we encounter
Please pray for God's protection of my family while I am gone.

I will bring back pictures and stories so come back here next week,