Take every Opportunity

I was getting some lumber at Home Depot and needed some of it cut smaller. Besides the convenience of them cutting the lumber, it gives a great opportunity to witness to someone who cannot leave you for a few minutes. Al came to assist me. His accent said “Islands” so I asked Al which island he was from and he said Cape Verde. I said I had stopped there once but never got to see much. Thinking that was enough to start the conversation, I asked – “If you were to die today would you go to heaven or hell?

Al - "I’d go to heaven because I know Gods Word.

“That's good but if you were asked at the gates of heaven. Why should God let you in what would you say?

Al – “I’ve kept the Ten Commandments

“How many lies have you told?

Al - Only white lies

“God sees all lies as lies and its sin

Then I gave him the courtroom example and of course right then, he got a page to go help someone else. Al told them he was busy with a customer and he'd be there soon- he wanted to hear more. He understood the example of the courtroom and Jesus and how not only did Jesus pay the price that he could not pay, but that Al must accept the payment that was made for him. If he did then the judge could legally let him go free because his fine was paid. But it required Al to accept that gift, not just to know about it.

Al said it makes sense. I told him he needs to repent and put his faith in what Jesus did on the cross. He promised to read the good person tract and really think about it.

The Buck Stops....Where??

I got an article about a poll of America's young people from a dear friend.  His concern is shared by many people I know.  Reading through the piece was disturbing to me, even though as a daily evangelist I have spoken to many of these people.  The article has no guidelines to define what a Biblical Christian is, which makes some of the answers/problems more obvious.  When I finished reading I remembered something that I saw last week from David Barton over at Wallbuilders.

- Understanding the role of clergy and the pulpit, the Rev. Charles Finney (a leading figure of the national revival known as the Second Great Awakening) reminded the ministers in his day of their historic influence in these areas:

Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation.

It is so important, especially as the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ draws ever-nearer, to pray for our pastor's and teachers.  As parent's we need to know what the youth Pastor is teaching-or not!  It truly matters.