Fishers 4 Men

Take every Opportunity

2012-01-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

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??

2012-01-01T07:12:00.001-05:00

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.

He Is There!

2011-12-31T14:46:00.000-05:00

When I saw this video on Ray Comfort's blog, I was reminded again how very grateful I am for people who share the Gospel.

Although we can't always see the result of sharing, we can ALWAYS be sure that God is faithful to finish what He starts.

Isaiah 55:10-11 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

After Shock...

2011-12-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

After the the long wait at the car repair place, I was welcomed with another incredible opportunity. They had told me it would be 2 hours or so. Well, it was like airline time and went on for 4 hours. As I was paying for the work, 3 of the guys who work there said I was the best customer they had there for many days, I was nice to them, did not get upset about the long wait and I should have my picture posted there as 'Customer of the Day'

I explained how just a few years ago, I would never had been that calm and complacent. That God changed me and gave me a new heart and attitude. I told them that it is my belief in Jesus Christ and what He did on the Cross that changed me. I had already given them tracts and then gave them a Gospel message again and how if they would repent and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ they could have a new life and an eternal one.

Praise the Lord for His Power!

Shocking Story!!

2011-12-30T10:23:00.005-05:00

I was waiting for my car to have some work done and was looking for that 'just right' opportunity to witness. I knew I had only to wait a few minutes – or I would make my own opportunity. Then there is was - a new customer came in who was really loud and he knew the guys at the counter. He was telling them how he had been shocked while at work with a couple hundred volts. Of course he already had a lawyer and they were going to sue all these people.

I let him go on a while and tolerated the foul language for a while - then I interrupted and said I was electrocuted thirty years earlier. That got his attention along with the four guys behind the counter, and I asked where he would have gone if he had died. I got the usual "I hope heaven". I said that I would not want to rely on hope but certainty. I explained he could know 100% and gave them million dollar bills. They must read the back of the tract and they would know if they were really going to Heaven. Then I said, “Please go to needGOD.com.”

A little while later the “shocked” guy sat near me and said the MDB was good. He even gets daily scripture sent to his phone. I said that's great but just get daily Scripture sent to his phone will not get him to heaven when he dies. I gave him a “Second Greatest Lie” book. He read a few pages and then slid it behind his back and changed chairs. God’s word will not return void!

Stay tuned…

A Worth-while Call.

2011-12-21T07:24:00.000-05:00

I had to get some things straightened around with address changes this week. While doing this, I encountered a young man via telephone named Vernon. After he finished getting me sorted out I had a ready made chance to talk to him about more important things...

"Is there anything else I can help you with today?"

"Yes, there is. I have a question for you that is off-topic. What will be your destination after you die?"

"Well,..I believe I will go to Heaven." Vernon said.

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Well, I grew up in church. My Mother is the Pastor and my Father is the head-Deacon. And I try to live right...and Jesus died for me."

"You know Vernon, those are great things, but what about your sins so far? I mean, you've lied, right? Can you remember how many times?"

"Uh, no I mean I've told white lies but I'm not sure how many and..."

"OK, so when I lie to you that makes me a ...?"

"Liar." He said quickly.

"And have you ever taken something that was not yours? Because you know that would make you a thief, right?"

"Right, yes I have..."

"So, you are going to stand before Jesus one day and give an account of YOUR life to Him...do you really think He's going to say, "Oh, I know Vernon's Mom and Dad, so he's in!"?"

"Well, no." He said slowly.

"Vernon you would be sentenced to Hell forever, does that bother you?"

"Yes it does."

"OK, I'm sure that you know what Jesus did to save you?"

"Right, He died on the cross for my sins" he exclaimed.

We went to a courtroom and he agreed that it would be great if so came along and paid a fine for him if he were found guilty and could not pay it."

"You'd get your life back...see? I said. "But you don't get out for a great apology or good deeds!"

"You know, you've made some really good points. Yeah, I get it!" He said thoughtfully.

I told Vernon that God would require both REPENTENCE and the transferring of the trust he had in his own goodness to trusting in Jesus Christ and what He did on that cross for us!

"You've got to take care of that Vernon-YOU. There is a very good chance at this moment of YOU ending up in Hell-in spite of the positions that your Mom and Dad hold. I hope you will think about this and if you get a chance go to www.NeedGod.com

"Yes, I'm writing it down now. Thank you for talking to me!"

"Yes and thanks for your help."

Right Or Wrong?

2011-12-19T07:17:00.000-05:00

My friend "Jane" has a dilemma:

She comes into contact with many girls who are on their way to the abortion clinic. They stop in, she does a pregnancy test, gives them resources and most times gets a good chance to talk to them about pro-choice vs. pro-life. But she is stopped short of telling them the Truth as you see it on the video.

Right or Wrong?

Are you kidding me???

2011-12-17T07:12:00.001-05:00

You know, lately I've heard people who say they are Christians, also say that they are pro-choice.

HUH? Did I hear them right? I'm sorry but to say you are a Christian and to say that you are PRO-CHOICE simply is wrong...those things are diametrically opposed.

Has anyone heard this...or is it just me?

Abortion...who knew?

2011-12-15T19:12:00.000-05:00

So many discussions today about abortion...so many people adamant about their viewpoint! But what is YOUR viewpoint? I'd love to hear it!!

To Move Or Not To Move

2011-12-07T20:46:00.004-05:00

An update from Steve and Dayna:

Saturday at the Flea market was a blessing. Many tract were distributed, and an incredible number of conversations took place. Our Spanish friends from Calvary Baptist (south) joined us and desire to expand their ministry into other churches as the Lord leads. God put Stefan in my path and he just about broke my heart. He knows the gospel, knows the penalty for not surrendering to Christ and yet still won't give up something,. When I asked him what on this planet was worth gambling his eternal soul for, he honestly had no answer, I reminded him several times he is playing Russian roulette with his eternal destiny to which he agrees. Pray for Stefan that God will open his heart and ears and mind to receive the gift of Jesus Christ's salvation. Then 2 couples stopped by, believers all, and prayed with us for God to bless the ministry. Then Jerry shows up. Jerry, a believer, wants to set up a Good Person booth at the Frontenac Flea market. Considering the number of workers showing up now at Eaugallie, God may be directing such a move: I've been there once to survey the facilities which are not bad for males. Port o' Potties (kin to Pati and Jack somehow) just don't work well for the ladies. Prayer please for the Lord's guidance here

Opportunity.

2011-12-05T07:30:00.001-05:00

I really needed a haircut and this was supposed to be 'the place' to get a good one. Darren was vey polite and right on time. He told me that he was from Houston and had only recently moved to Dallas. He explained how it happened that he knew the salon owner. He said he liked Dallas so far, but missed his family. Thanksgiving was only a few days away and he looked forward to seeing them all.

For the life of me I can't remember how our conversation started but...Darren told me he thought he was a pretty good guy. I revealed to him the standard set by Jesus-perfection.

"Do you do this for a living?" Darren asked me.

"No but I am a Chaplain." At this he seemed to drop his guard. He looked a bit sadder.

"Well, you know some ministers say it's ok to be gay. So, I guess it's just who you talk to."

Darren had fallen into the trap of listening to others instead of searching out Truth for himself. "I would urge you to read the Bible yourself, Darren. God makes it very clear that it is wrong. But so are many things... we justify what we are comfortable with, while condemning others around us. That's why we must make sure that we are clear about what the rules are. God makes the rules about who will enter Heaven-not us. I mean you wouldn't let a stranger who knocks on your door come in and live with you just because someone else told him he could, would you?"

"No..."

Darren was finished with my hair. I gave him a good tip and a Second Greatest Lie Ever Told book. He is certainly fighting an uphill battle, but it is one he has been fighting for a long time.

Romans 5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Life or Death?

2011-12-01T07:21:00.002-05:00

Although this happened a few months ago I feel that it is important enough to share:

When I met Jeanie, one of the first things I noticed was how young she was. She told me she was 3 months pregnant and was coming in for a test to confirm this. I administered the test and it came up positive.

She told me that she and her Mom had finally gotten a room in a local shelter. "Before that we were living in the woods for 7 months."

I can't tell you how sad that made me feel. "Well, I'm so glad that you got in!" I smiled as I silently prayed for this girl.

"My Mom is making me have an abortion." she said.

"How do you feel about that?" I asked her.

"Well, she wants the best for me and she said that I'm too young to have a baby."

I explained that her baby had a beating heart and eyes and already had a little personality. "How does the baby's father feel about this?"

Her facial expression changed to sadness. "Brandon goes to my school and I really love him but when he found out I was pregnant he didn't want anything to do with me. He comes from a rich family and he won't even talk to me now."

I could just imagine Brandon's mother welcoming this girl who lived in the woods into her nice home. "Jeanie, do you know anything about the abortion process? I'd like to show you a quick video so that you can be informed about this. Afterwards we can bring your Mom in and talk to her, ok?"

She agreed and I showed her a very informative video. (I wish I would have had this one !!)

Jeanie was aghast after watching and said over and over, "I'm not cutting my baby up!" Her Mom came in and Jeanie told her what she'd seen. Her Mom put her arm around Jeanie and reassured her that they would not be going to get an abortion. (whew!)

I took the opportunity to share the Gospel with both Mom and daughter. I pray that they have considered this and followed Jesus.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.

2011-11-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

Checking into my hotel tonite, I was met by the Bellman, Bryan. He was a polite young man. As he removed my heavy suitcase from the car, I thanked him and told him I wanted to give him something. I handed him a nice tip along with a Million Dollar Bill. He took my suitcase and followed me to the front desk, where I checked in. As I checked in, he read the tract.

He pulled the suitcase into the elevator and as the doors shut, I asked him what he thought of the message.

"Well, I think about that all the time!" he exclaimed.

"Good, you should you know, because we're all going to die and we must be ready!" He looked a bit shocked at the reply.

We reached the room and he placed the bag onto the stand in the room.

"What's your background Bryan? Do you believe God exists?"

"I'm sort of in the middle. I was raised without ever going to church. So when someone talks to me about God I back away." He said, pushing his hands away from his chest.

"Well, that makes sense really because you have no point of reference for that conversation. But where do you stand...are you atheist then?"

"I'm not sure if God exists."

"So you are an agnostic then?" I could tell he didn't really know the term. "It really just means you're not sure if He exists."

I gave Bryan the example of a painting being proof that there was a painter. The hotel being proof of a builder.

At this he nodded his head and said, "Yes, He exists. You know, I never used to think about it, but lately I've been listening to what people are teaching about this Bible and that Bible."

(How exciting!) I knew my time with Bryan was limited. "Bryan, I want to give you something else to read." I pulled a copy of One Second After You Die from my backpack. "I want you to read this with an open mind and heart."

Bryan reached out his hand and shook mine. "Thank you for this. I will read it, I promise you that."

"Thank you, Bryan, I'm going to be praying for you!"

Someone has obviously been praying for him and although this isn't his real name-God knows his real name. Please, pray for him that God would water this seed and bring salvation to this young man.

Location:Dallas, Texas

Unexpected Event.

2011-11-27T19:30:00.001-05:00

We are still unpacking boxes and trying to get organized from The Move. It's getting there. One of the things on the List was to get someone to come and hang Christmas lights on the house. Makes me feel as though I'm helping the economy just a bit.

Garrett called to say he was on the way. When he arrived I opened the door and saw that he was dragging his leg. His arm was limp on the same side.

"Hi Garrett, nice to meet you! Please come in." I pulled out a chair and asked him if he would like to sit down.

"Yes, thank you. I get tired." he said. "I had a stroke a year-and-a half ago. I don't let it get me down, though." Well that is easily said, but you could see it had really taken a toll. Especially for a man who works outside all year round.

"You are pretty young for a stroke. What would have happened if you had died?" I asked. "I mean, what happens to people who die? Where do they go?"

"Well, I ....heaven."

"Everyone? All of us?"

"Well...ok, what about Jerry Sandusky?"

"What do you think?" I asked.

"The jury's still out..." he stated.

"What if Jerry Sandusky ends up in court and his dear uncle is the judge and lets him go? Would that be fair?" I asked. "Wouldn't we want to have a judge who would make sure justice was satisfied?"

"Yes." Garrett was intent and listening. I took him to the Good Person test and when he failed he got tears in his eyes. "I keep asking God what He wants me to do. I know I'm still here for a reason and I just want to make sure I get it."

"Well, I don't think this is a coincidence. I mean I think God directly arranged this conversation, don't you? Garrett, this is the thing that God wants you 'to get'. You won't go any further until you do." I gave him a copy of Mark Cahill's booklet The Second Greatest Lie Ever Told. "I hope that you will give this some deep thought-it's the most important thing in your life!"

Please pray for him, his greatest decision lies ahead.

James 4:14 "You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."

Mixed Messages

2011-11-27T19:21:00.000-05:00

Burns looked a bit starry-eyed as I came into the room. I could also tell from our conversation that something was a bit off. Then he revealed to me that he was on a number of prescriptions from his doctor for anxiety.

"My wife killed herself. She just wouldn't eat any more. My son killed himself, too. You, know some churches think you go straight to Hell if you kill yourself."

"Well, there isn't any mention of that in scripture, Burns.". This answer seemed to cause him to think for a moment. I asked him where he thought he would end up.

"Well, there are degrees of punishment you know.". He drew out levels in the air with his hands.

We talked about lying and stealing and blasphemy and he admitted to being guilty of it all. But then he justified each instance.

"But I've never committed adultery", he announced self-righteously.

I explained that Jesus actually kicked it up a notch when He said, "...whoever
looks with lust has already committed adultery."

Burns took offense immediately and began to justify his lust by talking about the short-shorts and tight-fitting, low-cut tops women are wearing.

"They make it hard on men! What are we supposed to do, huh? They deserve to be raped!" He yelled.

"They will stand before God one day and give an account of their actions, just like you will, Burns."

Since I knew that I'd told him everything he needed to know, I wound things up and handed him a gospel tract.

"You know Burns, it sure would make me happy to think that you would read this."

He snidely replied, "I'll read it but I'm not planning on doing anything about it."

Yes, I am kicking the dust off of my feet with him but before I go...let me just say a little something about the way people in general are dressing now. What happened to dignity? Respect? Gals, do we really need to be reminded about modesty? How long has it been since we heard a good sermon on holiness? Would we even tolerate it, if we did???

The message we bring must be pure, not sullied by our politics, our attitude or our clothing. The glorious gospel that we are privileged to carry must not be mixed!

Moving on to Texas

2011-11-08T21:28:00.002-05:00

We have made the move from Florida to Texas. We’ve had so much going on here – deliveries, etc. Everyone who came got a tip and a couple of booklets – One Second after You Die, God has a Wonderful Plan for your Life, tracts and more...

I went to the grocery store and the young man who greeted people (yeah they do that here at the grocery store) refused the trillion dollar bill I offered. Said no way - it could like a tip and he would lose his job. He then asked if that had a gospel message going around the outside on the back. I said these are the newest ones he really should take it – again he did not want to appear to take a tip. So then I said “what if I dropped it” could you pick it up? He smiled and said yes. I dropped it and went on and yes he picked it up and read it.

Then I was able to give out some more in the store – there are many workers there and could not do enough to help you. So they all get ‘tips’!! Now it was off to Home Depot.....

Pray that the people who received tracts and booklets read, repent and put their faith in the Jesus Christ, and Him alone.

No Tract, No Time

2011-09-05T14:39:00.002-04:00

My sister Jody and I had a list of things to get at the store for an anniversary celebration at her church. After making sure we had everything we got in line.

Although it seemed like the longest line, Jody insisted this was the line she wanted.

"Why this line?" I asked her, knowing we were in a hurry.

"I like this guy, he's autistic", she told me.

I observed Dave as he checked out the people in front of us.

"He repeats everything three times." Jody whispered.

Dave was very careful and thorough with each item. But he was also pretty quick. He did repeat everything. As he sorted and bagged our items I realized that I had already given out my last gospel tract!!!! Ahhhhhh!!!! There would be no chance to speak with him for any length of time! Now what? I prayed the Lord would help me!

"Thank you very much, thank you very much, thank you very much." Dave said.

"Dave, if you died today would you go to heaven?". The question seemed to throw him off a moment. He seemed to be thinking.

"I think I would, yes", he said only once.

"Are you good enough to get in?"

"Uhm.... Yes, I think I am." He was taking this seriously.

"Do you have internet access?"

"Yes, I do."

"After you get off tonite go to www.NeedGod.com and take the test."

He repeated the website name three times. Probably for the benefit of the people right behind us. "Oh, it's a test!". He was excited.

"Be honest when you take it, you may be surprised."

"Ok, thank you very much, thank you very much, thank you very much."

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord for giving me the right thing to say!!

Surprise!

2011-07-29T17:58:00.001-04:00

Friday night we set up the tent at a local art festival. We were dead tired after a long week but were glad for the opportunity to speak to people. As Dayna and Steve arrived they began to tell us what a difficult week they'd had. Diana walked in at 6 and began to hand out tracts. Person after person came and the conversations were great ones all around. A few minutes into the festival I looked up to see Dayna walking toward me with a woman in tow.

"Jenn, Angie would like to take the good person test!"

"Ok, great Angie. Would you consider yourself to be a good person?" I wanted to be direct.

"Well, yes I would." She answered.

Angie admitted to lying and stealing when she was young. I explained to her that taking God's name in vain is blasphemy. She looked shocked. When I asked her if God would find her guilty she said, "No, I think He'll let me into Heaven."

"Based on what Angie?" I asked her.

"Well, forgiveness?" She tentatively answered.

"Based on what Angie?" I pressed her.

"Well, I prayed the prayer and asked Jesus into my heart." She smiled.

"Do you know where the scripture is to support that Angie? Because I'm sure that you know that there is no 'sinner's prayer'. And I've also heard preachers tell people to 'ask Jesus into their hearts but where do they get that, because it's not there either."

Angie didn't say anything, she just looked horrified. "Well, I accepted Him!"

"Angie I want you to think about something for a moment." I pointed to the sky, it was absolutely stunning looking as a huge storm approached. "Do you really think that the Creator of the universe needs your 'acceptance'? You see, the demons know Who Jesus is, they accept that. They will not be in Heaven. You see God wants all men everywhere to repent-turn from their sin- and follow Jesus. There must be a time when you transfer that trust that you have in yourself to Jesus. He said' I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. Do you remember the story of Nicodemus? He was a very respected Jewish Pharisee who came to Jesus and basically said, 'Ok, we know you are from God'. Jesus said to him, 'You must be born again. Now I'm sure Nicodemus thought, 'huh?'. See, being Jewish he thought he was 'in'. But Jesus said to him, You must be born again, that which is of the flesh is flesh and that which is of the spirit is of the spirit. That's sort of where you stand right now. You recognize Who Jesus is but..."

"I'm not born again! I've never been born again!" she said with horror in her voice.

I waited to see what she would do next. She was quiet. "Well, Angie my hope and prayer is that you will be." I waited for her to speak.

"I want to be saved."

"Well, you can go someplace private and pray or you can pray right here." I offered.

"I'll pray right now." Angie prayed right in the middle of the crowd. She was not ashamed.

I asked her if she would mind me taking a picture with me. After I took it she looked at it and said, "Look at that pretty smile after I am saved!"

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Stuart hears the Truth

2011-07-28T18:17:00.002-04:00

This month at the Friday @ Fifth event we were able to witness, hand out some tracts and books - but within the first hour, we were rained out. That first hour was great!

I spoke to Stuart who said he was a professing Christian and we spoke a bit. I asked him if he was able to share the Gospel in his daily walk, and I got the usual, "Well....." He was not sure what to say to people and then was not sure about his own walk. The weather as changing for the worse and he was a bit worried for his wife and daughters. Dayna was talking to his daughters, looked up and asked if they needed to go. Once Stuart heard Dayna sharing the Gospel with his daughters, he said they needed to stay and listen.

I then talked to Stuart some more, gave him a Wonderful Plan for your Life Book as well a One Thing You cannot do in Heaven book. He was pleased and said he would think about our talk, and his walk with the Lord and would read the books.

His wife was standing next to him but Stuart then walked over to listen to Dayna. Stuart's wife was quiet, and I asked if they were on holiday here. She said he was in the military and would be going to England in a week and the family would follow a month later. I gave her some UK Million Pound notes with the Gospel and asked her to share them with the Brits she ran into. I also asked her to read the books and she said yes and was now smiling.

All in all a great evening.

The Candy Store

2011-07-07T12:10:00.000-04:00

I like to check in with Tim Challies every so often, just to see what he's reading. I found an interesting little article and a short film that I think you would all find intriguing. It deals with sexual exploitation of children, which is on the rise here in America.

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Oh, how we need the healing hand of God on our nation!

And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!

2011-06-20T11:08:00.001-04:00

This weekend we were at a local flea market sharing the Gospel and handing tracts to everyone walking by.

Here’s just a few of the responses:

“I don’t need that, I am a minister” – I’ve been hearing that a lot lately, maybe it the internet ministry ‘licenses’ companies doing a good business.
When I asked if he would take the tract and give it to someone who is not a believer, I got – “No, I don’t need to.”

Another guy I gave a tract to, stopped to talk. I told him the tract asks if you will go to heaven when you die? He huffed, and said “are you Born Again?” I said yes and he said – so am I. Then he lit into me with “you are telling everyone the negative and that is the wrong way to talk to people.” I asked how is it negative when I asked if you were going to heaven. He said you are going about it the wrong way and making people mad as he walked away. I asked him to come back and talk and he just muttered something and walked off.

So far an interesting day……

A few others had similar responses and typically it was from this who said they were ‘believers’ but I could not figure out what they believed in.

On a positive note, Dayna was able to talk to a few young girls who said they believed in the Lord and were Born Again. They were happy to see people presenting the Gospel. They asked for some tracts and Dayna gave them a stack of Youth Million Dollars to hand out. Praise God for their love of the Lord.

Another lady came by and wanted to know if we had ‘fake money’ for little kids? I showed her what we had and the money was really Gospel tracts – she just kept talking and walking around the table so Dayna started to talk to her. She is an insurance agent and wanted a display in her office of an antique truck loaded with money. Dayna showed her where she could purchase tracts if she wanted a lot of them. She was again told they are Gospel tracts, not just ‘fake money’. Then she really got interested and said that was a great idea – load the truck up with tracts. We gave her 800 tracts – Pray the people who get the ‘fake money’ realize the REAL TRUTH when they read the Gospel message.

so shall My Word be, which goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do. (Isaiah 55:11)

The Patriot

2011-06-13T19:50:00.000-04:00

Saturday morning the first visit I paid was to a man dying of a nasty infection. It wasn't until I saw his feet that I realized that he wasn't in his eighties but closer to 30 years of age. I confirmed this with his nurse. I have to admit, that was a bit unnerving.

I saw several more people that morning and then realized it was already past time to head for home. But instead of heading for the exit, I was drawn back down the hall. I came to a dark room and saw someone in the far bed. He didn't move as I approached but just stared at me. I greeted the man but he didn't speak, he just nodded. His face never changed expression and he never took his eyes off of me.

As I made small talk with James, I noticed that he was vey underweight for a tall man. I saw the case of canned liquid on his table and knew that he was on a feeding tube.

James didn't say much, he just listened and watched. He seemed almost unreachable. He was honest in his responses to me. When I asked him which destination would be his, Heaven or Hell, he said, "I'll take Hell".

"James, you know I don't know you but I sure don't want you to go to Hell!". I took time to describe Hell for him. I went on to tell him what Jesus did for him so that he would not have to go there. He listened without reacting.

"Does this make sense James?" I questioned.

"Yes." he stated.

"What stops you, James?"

He stared at me and made a simple statement. "Vietnam Nam."

I waited for him to elaborate.

"I was shot down. Been in the hospital for 15 years." he said it sadly.

I prayed that God would give me the words that would minister to him. "Thank you for going to Vietnam Nam. Because you went I am free today. Because you made this great sacrifice, our country is free today. Thank you, James. You went and did that and you didn't even know me!" For the first time I saw light in his eyes.

"James how would it make you feel if someone walked in here and burned a flag?". His gaze intensified and I could tell it upset him. "Would that make you mad? Would it offend you?". He nodded his head to the affirmative. I paused a moment before asking him, "do you think Jesus feels that way when we shrug at all He's done to set us free?"

He changed his gaze and looked out the window. "James if you had been happy and healthy and I stopped you on the street today to talk to you about this, would you have talked to me?"

Without hesitation he said, "No."

"Thanks for talking to me today, James."

"I'm moving to Atlanta tomorrow." (whoa)

"You know, James I was on my way out today when something told me to come down here into your room. I believe that was God. Now none of us are promised tomorrow James, but for some reason He sent me here today. I am going to be praying for you and I do hope you'll give this matter some more thought."

Please pray for James and the thousands of other Vets who need to hear about Jesus.

Last Shuttle - Endeavour launch brings fish...

2011-05-16T11:05:00.008-04:00

The Space Shuttle launches always brings out the spectators. Local news said to expect a half million or more. Well, the crowds must have been closer to the space center, locally there were only a few dozen. Still – a great fishing opportunity.

First guy I gave a Trillion Dollar Tract to had a German accent. He took the trillion and I also gave him a German Euro. “What is this?”

It has a message on the back about eternity

“I don’t believe in organized religion”

I said I didn’t either. He pushed the euro back at me and was getting agitated but I told him to keep it.

“No – take it back”

I did. He did keep the trillion dollar tract though…….

I kept on going and gave out a few more Trillions..

One couple took the TDB, I heard the German accent – maybe a tour group? I offered the German Euro and they were far more receptive and took the German Euro. They did not want to talk, walked on but kept the tracts…

A few minutes later, I offered a TDB to fellow. He looked at the back, then abruptly handed it back.

“I don’t need this – I’m going to heaven”

Well, how about giving it to someone who is not going.

“NO! take it back”

Do you share your faith?

“Yes he yelled back at me, I’m a minister!”

I don’t know what he was a minister of or to but his hostility sure was evident.

Many people did take the tracts, but were focused on waiting for the shuttle launch, so not much interest in talking – God’s Word will not return void.

Don't forget to tip!

2011-05-07T16:47:00.007-04:00

I went to the car wash today after my car was bombarded by bugs – a weird phenomenon here in Florida for a few weeks a year. When I opened the car door:

The guy and girl cleaning the interiors of the cars in the area where I was, let out a yelp. Then said – HEY! Look at all the money.

One asked what they were and I said Gospel tracts – the look changed from glee to huh??

Anyway, the place was packed so I let them get on with their job and gave them each a Trillion Dollar bill. Then I thought about the other dozen or so workers so I gave them all a tip.

Yes - they got real $$ as well - please when you leave a tract, where appropriate leave a real tip.....

Hitler's Ideology and Abortion Today.

2011-04-29T15:48:00.000-04:00

Do you get upset at images of the Holocaust? Or is there a group of people that you would like to see eradicated? Living Waters has just released an interesting new promo video, exploring this idea.

I cannot wait for the full version!!!!

Psalms 10:13 Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, "You will not call to account"?

The End Or The Beginning?

2011-04-27T19:17:00.000-04:00

When the nurse told me about the new man on the hall, I knew it was an important appointment.

"George is dying, he doesn't know where he's going and he is scared." she said. I quickly made note of the room number and name and set off down the hall. Of course, as I came to the room the aid immediately decided that this was the time to go in and make up the room. It's always that way. I went on to another room to see who I could visit in the meantime.

When I returned, George was gone. Looking back at the nurse, I saw a new man in the hallway. It had to be him. The nurse gave me the nod. I prayed that God would give me the words to speak.

"Hi, are you new here? I know everyone, but I don't know you." I smiled. George looked up at me but there was no smile. He had the look of a man without hope. The nurse introduced us and I walked over toward the TV as he wheeled himself along.

"I'm waiting for my wife. She was supposed to be here at 10 o'clock." By now it was 10:20.

"Well, she is probably fighting traffic since it's Easter weekend, right? I'm sure she'll be here any time.". Knowing that this was not a great place to talk I decided that I would wait and talk to both of them. I left him there waiting and went down another hall to visit someone else, dropping off a 'One Second After You Die' booklet in George's room. Walking past a window later I saw him outside with a nicely dressed lady.

I approached them outside and introduced myself. He introduced me to his wife, Margie.

"Are you the one who put that book on his table?" she asked me. Wow. That was fast. They seemed very concerned.

"Yes." This seemed to resolve the mystery that was hanging in the air. I made some small talk about the weather and their home state.

"May I sit down?" I asked.

"Oh, yes. Find a shady spot.". She said.

Looking into George's eyes, I wished that I had a camera to record the utter despair and hopelessness. He looked like he was in shock. I found out that just last week, the family had him completely in the dark about his terminal condition. The hospice doctor ended that when a few days ago, he walked into the room and abruptly stopped the charade. We do people a great disservice when we try to avoid the truth at this time of life. The realization of death is the wake up call we all need to be willing to hear Truth.

I noticed that Margie had on a large gold cross. "That's a beautiful cross. Does it have special significance?" They had a huge question looming over them and the answer was right under her nose.

"I gave it to George for our 50th." she smiled. "But he won't wear it."

"Do you go to church anywhere?" I asked them. She named a local church.

"What about you, George?" He was lost in his own thoughts, regrets, memories. He looked at me and said, "Church of God.".

"I want to ask you both some questions and I need your complete honesty, ok? If you died today, where would you go? Are you good enough to get to Heaven?"

Margie immediately answered me. "I was raised Baptist and I'm a good person." (Now do we really think there will be an angel with a clipboard standing there?...'religious affiliation please')

George was silent, looking far away. "George?" He nodded his head and said, "Yes."

I immediately took them to the Law, George listened intently now and seemed to grow more interested. They were both honest and understood what their destiny was. Both admitted being very concerned at their future.

"Yesterday was Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross. Why did He die?" I asked. George was glued to me now, listening to every word, as if he didn't want to miss anything. "Did you know that intricate knowledge of this event will not save you? After all, James tells us that 'the demons believe in Jesus and tremble'- but they won't be in Heaven. They may know every detail of the crucifixion-well, they may have even been there! It won't do them any good. God took the form of a man in Jesus. He led a perfectly spotless life, never sinned. Laid His life down on the cross and rose from the dead three days later. You see, He defeated our greatest enemies...Death, Hell and sin!"

George's eyes never left mine.

"God requires that we repent and then embrace Jesus, taking up our cross and following Him." I gave them a courtroom illustration to make clear the idea of repentance.

"You've only got one chance because Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but by me.' " Looking right into his eyes, I said, "George, my prayer is that you will get right with God, because we don't know the day of our death and we must be ready to meet Him." I gave them both a Good Person booklet and stood up to put my chair back.

I looked back to thank them for talking to me. Margie smiled and said, "Thank you." George never looked up, he was absorbed in the booklet.

Ecclestiastes 11:4-6 He who observes the wind will not sow; and he that regards the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. In the morning sow your seed and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reproved upon an obedient ear.

Now's Our Chance!

2011-04-21T15:55:00.000-04:00

For those of us left wondering what we can do about the state of our country, here's something we can do.

Support an American corporation that is standing up for marriage as scripture defines it. (One man and one woman.)

Tracts Flying High

2011-04-15T14:46:00.003-04:00

Are you looking for places to leave tracts?

There are so many and you can get ideas at:
FFM Ministries

Here's the real reason for that seat-back pocket in an airplane.

Un million d'euros pour vous!

2011-04-08T05:07:00.000-04:00

A recent business trip to Nice, France provided an opportunity to hand out some of our French versions of the million euro football (soccer) tracts. Wow – it was harder this time than any other time to get tracts into the hands of the lost.

I went to the large pedestrian area where last year, I was able to get out a few hundred tracts. This time, it was very difficult to get people to take them. I went to a major street crossing near a mall, and most of the time was rejected as well. So I placed some on cars and the many real estate ad stands. A hundred tracts have been given out.

These fellows were interested in reading the tract, however knew virtually no English, so I left it that the tracts and the Holy Spirit speak to them. I pray they opened their heart to Him, repented and prayed.

I noticed many more Muslims than I did on my previous trips in Southern France. The Muslim population is estimated to be 15% in this region of France having doubled in the last few years. Muslims are the fast growing group in France. Pray that the few real Christians in France go and preach the Gospel.

Purgatory Problem

2011-04-05T18:51:00.001-04:00

Saturday I was slated to take two new gals with me rehab center. I was trying to work out the logistics in my head on the way there. Driving up over the causeway connecting the island to the mainland, I looked out at the water and was reminded of what a wonderful job God did with creation. 'Ok, God, I know You will take care of the details.'

After we prayed, we went into the short-term hallway. Ruby chose to come in first, while Clara prayed for us. We met Max, who just had knee surgery. We had a great conversation with him and left him thinking.

Just down the hallway we saw an open door and went in to meet Jim. He was strapped upright in a wheelchair. He looked like he'd really had a bad stroke. When asking him a question, one had to wait 3-4 seconds for a nearly imperceptible nod of his head. When we talked of God's impending judgement, he struggled to say something.

"Ppp..." he closed his eyes with effort.

"Purgatory, Jim? Are you saying you will go to Purgatory instead of Hell?" He nodded with hope in his eyes. "You see Tom, there's no mention of Purgatory in the scriptures. The Bible says in the Book of Revelation that, 'all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone'. That's Hell, Jim, not Purgatory. You sure don't want to be wrong about this, do you?"

I went on to make sure that Jim knew what God requires of us in order to go to Heaven. If he's still around, I'll stop back in to see him....now that he's had time to think.

Share your Faith - Today!

2011-03-23T11:22:00.003-04:00

Last week at the Spring Praise Fest in Cocoa Fl was a great opportunity to witness to believers and non-believers and those not so sure of where they are with Jesus Christ. The Praise Fest is an all day event with several of the local church praise bands.

I saw a couple sitting off by themselves with a small Sheltie dog so I went up to pet the dog – use whatever means possible to start a conversation. I quickly asked if they were believers and she said yes and her husband is an assistant pastor at a church that she said has become the recovery church. Many of the attenders are recovering addicts of different types. We talked a bit of what they teach, are they of the God has a Wonderful Plan for your Life church or do they use the Bible? He said he thinks he is very sound but when I spoke to him a little more, he was struggling. I gave them the Wonder Plan book and both were appreciative.

Then she said she is struggling to witness to some co-workers. One a Lesbian, another an atheist and another she was not sure what she believed. I gave her some tracts to use, including the “Are you afraid to Die” booklet. She was very appreciative and was surprised there are actually people who help others learn to witness Biblically.

It’s time to learn how to witness – God has given us the plan in His Word.
John 4:1-30, Luke 18:18-30

Daddy, how do I get to Heaven?

2011-03-18T16:18:00.000-04:00

As we entered the restaurant we noticed that the only thing open was the bar. We hesitated, then thirst won out. As the bartender brought our Cokes, we asked him about a large tattoo on his arm. It was a cross with his grand-fathers' names inside. I asked him why he chose a cross.

"No reason, just a Celtic cross.". The way he said it made me think he didn't want a 'religion' discussion. Then he showed us a tattoo going down his arm with the name Madelyn. He told us that it was his daughter's name and that she was his pride and joy. He told us that he and his wife were expecting a new baby soon. He showed us where he would put the new name.

In light of that, I asked if he believed in Heaven and Hell. Scott told us that he believed in Heaven but not Hell. We talked about that for a moment and Scott told us that he was raised a Catholic but didn't believe 'all that'. He told us that he took catechism and was baptized but didn't believe all that stuff. Then he got busy and waited on some others who were there. He avoided us for a few minutes and then came back around. He seemed very closed to our discussion.

"What will you tell Madelyn and Sophie one day when they ask you how to get to Heaven?"

In a moment, his face changed. All arrogance was wiped away. He now seemed a bit desperate.

"I know that you're busy Scott. I'm going to leave this little booklet for you and I hope you'll read it before you sleep tonite."

He quickly came over and picked up the Good Person test lying on the bar. He took a pitcher with his tips in it that he had under the counter.

"I'm gonna keep this in here. I promise that I'll read it tonite." What he once avoided he now seemed to treasure.

Now that's a great tip!! (FYI: we left a great REAL tip along with that. Be sure you glorify the Lord with your testimony. Don't be stingy with your tips!)

Can you see the signs???

2011-03-11T08:21:00.006-05:00

What a perspective. Only a very foolish person would think they could outrun something like this.

This quake is meant to be an attention grabber, a wake-up call. Sort of like that first contraction before birth. Hmmm...

Mark 13:8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

If you are a true Christian, please pray for our brothers and sisters in Japan and around the world.

If you are not a Christian, please pause in your life long enough to consider the warning that you are being given from above.

Luke 12: 4-5 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

Matthew 16:24-27 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

One more.

2011-03-09T06:34:00.000-05:00

After the Art Festival, Dayna and I were making our way back to the car. Behind the restaurant, where we parked we saw a young woman sitting on the ground. We approached her and started talking to her. She was open to conversation and seemed interested and intrigued. Her name was Sarah. She listened closely and was thoughtful. Dayna asked her if she owned a Bible. She didn't. Dayna pulled a brand new Bible out of her bag and handed it to her.

"You have a Bible in there? Do you guys talk to other people like this?" she was genuinely touched.

"We talk to everyone we can, because you know what? Jesus changed our lives! We are not the same people we used to be, Sarah. He will change yours too, if you let Him." Dayna said. "I hope you'll consider these things very seriously, Sarah before you go to sleep tonite- no one knows when it's their turn to die."

"I know. I will. Thank you both for talking to me like this."

Will her life be changed? Whosoever will may come.

Luke 14:23 And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.

Instructions for becoming an Atheist.

2011-03-08T16:36:00.005-05:00

Had to pass along an article from that great thinker, Ray Comfort. Kudos.

Pay close attention to these directions...they're difficult to follow!!

Romans 1: 16-32 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Bakers Dozen

2011-03-06T18:34:00.004-05:00

We were asked by Pastor Bob at Calvary Chapel Venice to teach a one day crash course at the church. We invited our friends Steve and Dayna to come and help us out. Saturday morning came and we were so excited to see that while 6 signed up, 13 were present! Pastor Bob and his lovely wife Barb were so gracious to provide breakfast and even a worship leader! We sang a few songs and then dug in to study. We did some videos and role played, too. Even after only 3 hours everyone did really well.

Venice was having it's yearly Art Festival. It provided a great opportunity for an outreach. On the way over we stopped at Pineapple's Grill for a quick bite to eat. Milt, one of the students wanted to get started so he went out alone!!! Can you imagine your first time out- alone?? We are so thankful for people who still want to know how to share the Gospel.

We are so very grateful to Pastor Bob and Barb for allowing us to teach this class. We are praying that they will consider the full 8-week course here.

2 timothy 3:15

Diana keeps going!

2011-02-23T19:33:00.001-05:00

My friend Diana loves to fish....for people. In November she hurt her leg, but in spite of the pain she walking and passing out tracts for a couple more weeks until she found out that her leg was broken! She tries not to let anything stop her.

She and I went fishing today at a bus stop near her home. The walking was not easy for her with the crutches. The potholes and gravel were a bit difficult to negotiate, but she never complained.

When we got over to the benches, she sat down near two young prostitutes. The girls might have been 17 or so. They both claimed to be Christians. Diana confronted them kindly about true repentance until their bus came.

Tiffany, a "until recently" homeless girl came over to ask Diana about her leg. Diana asked if she was attending church now.

"I haven't found one I'm comfortable with yet." Tiffany said. "But I do read my Bible every day now."

They talked some more until some others walked up. The bus stop is a great place to talk to people about the Lord. You get about 15 minutes to talk to people, they catch their bus and then new people are dropped off.

I'm so thankful to have friends like Diana, who persevere through whatever life brings.

Ephesians 6-Stand firm!

Location:Melbourne Beach FL

"Silent Scream" Producer Dead at 84.

2011-02-23T13:30:00.002-05:00

‘I am one of those who helped usher in this barbaric age.’ After putting
thousands of unborn children to death, he became one of the great leaders of
the pro-life movement.

BY STEPHEN VINCENT

NEW YORK — Dr. Bernard N. Nathanson, an obstetrician who oversaw the
performance of about 75,000 abortions before becoming a leading pro-life
advocate and a convert to the Catholic faith, died at his home in New York
Feb. 21 after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 84. After performing
his last abortion in 1979 and declaring himself to be pro-life, Nathanson
produced the 1985 film The Silent Scream, which shows sonogram images of a
child in the womb shrinking from an abortionist’s instruments, and the
documentary film Eclipse of Reason, which displays and explains various
abortion procedures in graphic detail. Both films had a significant impact
on the abortion debate, solidified his credentials among pro-life advocates
and earned him the scorn of his former pro-abortion friends and colleagues.
He also published a number of influential books, including Aborting America,
written in 1979 with Richard Ostling, then a religion reporter for Time
magazine, in which he exposed the deceptive and dishonest beginnings of the
pro-abortion movement and undermined the argument that abortion is safe for
women. He often admitted that he and other abortion advocates in the 1960s
lied about the number of women who died from illegal abortions at that time,
inflating the figure from a few hundred to 10,000 to gain sympathy for their
cause. In his 1996 autobiography The Hand of God, he told the story of his
journey from pro-abortion to pro-life, saying that viewing images from the
new ultrasound technology in the 1970s convinced him of the humanity of the
unborn baby. Outlining the enormous challenge of restoring a pro-life ethic,
he wrote, “Abortion is now a monster so unimaginably gargantuan that even
to think of stuffing it back into its cage … is ludicrous beyond words.
Yet that is our charge — a herculean endeavor.” He noted, regretfully,
“I am one of those who helped usher in this barbaric age.” His pro-life
witness could not easily be dismissed as one-sided propaganda since
Nathanson had enjoyed such a high standing among abortion supporters as a
co-founder of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (now
called NARAL ProChoice America), and as operator of what he called the
nation’s busiest abortion business. The facility was opened in New York
City after the state’s abortion laws were loosened in 1970 and abortion
promoters realized that the high number of women seeking abortion could not
all be admitted to a hospital for the procedure. A freestanding ambulatory
clinic, in which abortion and recovery took about three hours, was an
innovation devised by Nathanson and his colleagues. Overall, Nathanson
estimated, he presided over 60,000 abortions as director of the facility,
instructed fellow practitioners in the performance of 15,000 other
abortions, and personally performed about 5,000 abortions, including one on
his own child conceived with a girlfriend in the 1960s. Baptized Catholic
For more than a decade after he became pro-life, Nathanson described himself
as a Jewish atheist, but in December of 1996 he was baptized a Catholic by
Cardinal John O’Connor in a private Mass with a group of friends in New
York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He also received confirmation and first
Communion from the cardinal. About his baptism, he said, “I was in a real
whirlpool of emotion, and then there was this healing, cooling water on me,
and soft voices, and an inexpressible sense of peace. I had found a safe
place.” Among those concelebrating the Mass was Father C. John McCloskey,
an Opus Dei priest who had instructed Nathanson in the faith over a number
of years. “He was a pro-life prophet,” Father McCloskey said in a recent
Register interview. “He saw the whole culture of death coming, and knew
that abortion was just the tip of the iceberg.” Nathanson visited Father
McCloskey periodically over the course of a decade, the priest said, and one
day in 1994 announced that he wanted to become a Catholic. After his
baptism, Father McCloskey said, “He practiced the faith, he frequented the
sacraments, and spoke about his Catholicism unabashedly.” Nathanson later
said that he was drawn closer to God while viewing a massive Operation
Rescue event, when hundreds sat down in front of a New York Planned
Parenthood building, blocking traffic. The sight of so many pro-lifers
selflessly sacrificing their selves and risking arrest made him realize that
they must be answering a higher call, he explained. In an epilogue to the
second edition of The Hand of God, Father McCloskey called the book “one
of the more important autobiographies of the twentieth century,” which
documents “man’s inhumanity both to humanity and to his personal self,
and the possibility of redemption.” Another strong factor in his
conversion was the book Pillar of Fire, by noted psychiatrist Dr. Karl
Stern, who tells of his own journey from Judaism to the Catholic Church.
Nathanson studied briefly under Stern in medical school, though at that time
he did not know about Stern’s conversion. It was only years later, when
Nathanson read Pillar of Fire that he learned off his former professor’s
religious views. Nathanson’s godmother for baptism was Joan Andrews Bell,
who had served more than a year in jail for blocking the entrances to
abortion businesses. She said she spoke to Nathanson by phone in February
2011, when he only had the strength to speak a few sentences. “He said he
was praying for us, and I told him we love him and pray for him, too,” she
said. “He will be remembered as a very strong advocate for the babies,”
she continued. “One factor stood out, knowing him over the years, and that
was that he had a deep pain for what he had done in terms of abortion. I
remember there were periods he was fasting; he underwent huge amounts of
fasting to make up for it.” She said that he had “a deep and tender
heart,” and that once he saw the truth about abortion, he was determined
to stop it. “He was like St. Paul, who was a great persecutor of the
Church, yet when he saw the light of Christ, he was perhaps the greatest
apostle for the Gospel. Dr. Nathanson was like that after his conversion. He
went all around the world talking about the babies and the evils of
abortion. Being his godmother was such an amazing thing, to see him come to
Christ.” Nathanson was married and divorced three times before being
married in the Church by Father McCloskey soon after becoming a Catholic.
His wife, Christine, survives him, as does his grown son, Joseph, by an
earlier union. A Doctor’s Son Bernard Nathanson was born in New York City
July 31, 1926. His father was a highly accomplished
obstetrician/gynecologist who taught in various prestigious medical schools.
Nathanson grew up with his younger sister in a secular Jewish home. As he
explained in his autobiography, his father sent him to Hebrew school yet
would question and undermine the teachings of the rabbis. He described his
father as an excellent and ethical physician who was less than exemplary in
his personal life. He was dominating and overbearing, and cheated on his
wife. Nathanson wrote that his sister “lost her personality” under their
father’s influence and committed suicide at age 49, an event that grieved
his father so greatly that he never mentioned her in conversation afterward.
Nathanson followed in his father’s footsteps, attending McGill University
Medical College in Montreal, where he had his first experience with abortion
after he got his girlfriend pregnant. He used the money received in the mail
from his father to pay for her abortion, at a time when the procedure was
illegal. “It served as my introductory excursion into the satanic world of
abortion,” he later wrote. After graduating from medical school in 1949,
he did his residency in Chicago and New York, at one time working in the
same hospital as his father. In 1953 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and
served for a few years as an obstetrician/gynecologist. After his military
stint, he settled in New York and began building a thriving ob-gyn practice.
While working with poor patients, he saw the scarring effects of illegal
abortions on the women. He wrote, “Illegal abortion was in 1967 the number
one killer of pregnant women.” In New York, he got another girlfriend
pregnant and decided to perform an abortion on her himself. About aborting
his own child, he wrote in The Hand of God: “I swear to you that I had no
feelings aside from the sense of accomplishment, the pride of expertise.”
He added, describing the abortionist’s mindset: “icy; conscienceless;
remorselessly perverting his medical skills; defiling his ethical charge;
and helping, nay seducing, with his clinical calm, his oh-so-comforting
professionalism, women into the act that comes closest to self-slaughter.”
Busiest Abortion Business While not giving up his ob-gyn practice, Nathanson
became heavily involved in abortion in 1968 after meeting Larry Lader, a
politically connected public relations master who was obsessed with
overturning New York’s abortion laws. In looking for an easy target to
attack for media attention, Nathanson said, they chose the Catholic Church,
whose opposition to abortion they blamed for every botched illegal abortion
they brought before the media. Bolstered by a coalition of abortion doctors
and a burgeoning feminist movement, New York’s lawmakers passed a bill to
overturn the state’s century-old abortion restrictions, which was signed
into law by Republican Gov. Nelson Rockefeller on July 1, 1970. Soon
Nathanson was the director of the new Center for Reproductive and Sexual
Health (CRASH) in Manhattan, which he described as the “largest abortion
clinic in the Western world,” with referrals from all along the Eastern
seaboard and beyond. Looking back on those years, he wrote, “I had a young
son and a wife, but I was hardly ever at home. I bitterly regret those
years, if for no other reason than that I failed to see my son grow up.”
As he became more publicly associated with abortion, he was treated as a
“pariah” in legitimate medical circles and received fewer obstetrical
referrals. For these reasons, he decided to leave the abortion facility at
the end of 1972 and took the position as chief of obstetrics at St. Luke’s
Hospital, where he kept doing abortions for what he considered “medically
justified reasons.” Yet the advent of ultrasound technology eventually
convinced him that a true human being is killed in abortion, and he began to
develop what he called the “vector theory of life.” By this he meant
that from the time of conception, the unborn child has a self-directed force
of life that, if not interrupted, will lead to the birth of a human baby. He
knew this was not “potential life,” as the Supreme Court ruled in Roe v.
Wade. Writing in The Hand of God, Nathanson described a turning point in his
thinking: “I believe the fertilized ovum (zygote) to be a new individual
launched along an unimaginably busy vector of life that terminates when the
vector finally moves its 180 degrees to the negative pole.” The trajectory
of this insight would lead him to his own 180-degree turn in thinking and
eventually to work against legal abortion and the industry that promoted it.
Funeral arrangements are pending. Register correspondent Stephen Vincent
writes from Wallingford, Connecticut.

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/bernard-nathanson-dead-at-84/

"I am 100% sure there is NO GOD!"

2011-02-13T13:33:00.003-05:00

As I was witnessing this past week, I spoke to an atheist. When I asked him if he was an atheist or an agnostic he confirmed – atheist. I asked him to look up the beach and then down the beach as far as he could see.

“How many grains of sand are there on that beach”
-- Zillions and zillions

“So you don’t really know the exact #?”
-- No, there are many things I don’t know

“So could you be wrong saying there is no God?”
-- No – since I was 13 I knew there was no God. I was raised as a Catholic and I learned there is no God.

I asked if he would mind talking some more and he agreed. He was very cordial. We spoke some more. He said that the universe and everything in it was made but he did not know how, but it was not by God. Something or someone hurt this man and turned him vehemently against God.

Matthew 10:33 says: but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

I gave him one of our latest tracts. As I walked down to talk to a couple, I noticed he was reading the booklet – he read it all and kept it.

Please pray, he will ask for repentance for whatever turned him against God.

God is able.

2011-02-04T15:27:00.004-05:00

Grab a cuppa joe....

Jesus Christ Saved Me from 27 Years of Homosexuality from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

When God changes a life, it is CHANGED.

Dayna's Day

2011-01-09T20:00:00.005-05:00

Got this encouraging note from Dayna today...just had to share it.

After I left the church today, I wanted to run by Book-A-Million to find a book for Steve. I was closest to the one Merritt Island, so I went there, but they did not have it. Initially, I was a little irritated because I really did not want to make two stops, but that was when I believe the Holy Spirit told me I needed to go to the store in Viera. While in the Viera store, I heard three teenagers talking very loudly about death (and some other not real nice things), and I knew I needed to hand them a tract (the pit in my stomach is always my indicator). So, I prayed and handed them tracts. Just then, a woman walked up, so I handed her a tract too. Well, to make a long story short, they were Jewish, and they got very loud and very rude almost instantly. Within three to five minutes there were six Jewish boys, and one of the guys started using the Savior's name as a curse word, very loudly. But, glory to God for the Holy Spirit, He filled my heart with the love and the words for these lost souls. However, within another minute or two, one of the Jews got the store manager to come and ask me to leave the store. She was not very nice either, and she told me I was disrupting the whole store and bothering people. Anyway, the Holy Spirit led me in a conversation for a few more minutes with the only civil one of the six. I just knew I was there to speak to them even if it wasn't going good. We'll have to talk more about that encounter in person.

So, here comes the real blessing. I left there and headed home praying the entire way. When I got to the house, I went to the community mailbox to get our mail. As I am at the box, an SUV pulls up in front of the house where the box is and a teenage girl gets out of the front seat and goes in the house. The boy that was in the back seat gets in the front as I am passing by the car. I have no tracts on me because I left my purse in the car, and at that moment, the Holy Spirit reminds of the three tracts in my back pocket that the Jews handed back to me. So, I handed the teenage boys two tracts and immediately they were excited because they were the million dollar tracts. Then, I asked them the million dollar question, and they both said "yes, they were going to heaven because they were good people." I asked them if I could test that, and they said "yes." We went through the law and they admitted to everything, not one bit of justifying. They both said they would be guilty of breaking God's law, and at that moment, Joe hung his head and looked at me with fear in his eyes and said "UT OH." He knew he was going to hell because he wasn't really a good person. Joe had never heard the Gospel, he did not know what it took to get to heaven. So, by the grace of God, I was able to share the best information he had ever received with him. His heart was so open! Hallelujah, praise God! See, if my steps had been any different today, I would have never met up with Joe. My armor got a little dinged at Books-A-Million, but Joe was worth every bit of it.

I thank you both for your faithfulness in bring WOTM the Calvary and continuing on with FFM because we are here for His honor and His glory! I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart and I want to share Him with everyone even if they don't want to hear it.

I pray this blesses you! God bless you both!

It absolutely blesses us, Dayna and now many more people! Thank you...

Hiding.

2010-12-27T20:22:00.006-05:00

I saw him lying on his bed, he was staring at the ceiling. After introducing ourselves, Allyson and I talked to Sonny for a bit. After he mentioned that he was a Native American, I asked him what he thought of the afterlife.

"Well, I believe in father sky and mother earth." he said. "I don't believe in Heaven or Hell."

"OK, where does that leave you?"

"Well, I think maybe I'll return as a wolf or some other animal."

"So you believe in reincarnation?" At this he nodded. "Scripture specifically states that 'it is appointed for man to die once-after this the judgment.', did you ever read that?" I inquired.

"Oh, I've read the Bible." he proudly said.

"Great, so if there's really is a Heaven are you good enough to get there? I mean I know you don't believe in it but just go with me for a minute, OK?"

He agreed to do so.

After just a couple of questions it was very apparent that Sonny wasn't happy about his behavior being questioned by anyone, even God. "So I guess every guy is going to He'll for looking at pretty girls?" he sarcastically quipped. I tried to answer him but he just kept talking over me. I let him talk on for a couple of minutes.

Keeping in mind that Sonny had told me that the possibility of Hell did concern him, I waited him out. "Sonny, do you want to know what God did for you, so you don't have to spend eternity in Hell?"

"Yes, tell me."

I began to tell him about Jesus, but at that Name he started to rant about lust and said that he preferred to go to Hell if that was how God was.

I reached for a Good Person tract but Sonny refused it. "No I don't want it. I won't read it." Knowing that Sonny was finished listening to reality, we thanked him for talking to us.

You know, after leaving his room, I thought of so many things I could have said to him regarding Native American beliefs, my own father is partly Nez Perce. I even lived on a reservation one summer. But I know that discussion of those things is exactly where Sonny wanted to go.

With heavy beard stubble and a Polish last name, Sonny just reminded me of so many of us who try to look like something we are not. Good.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can understand it?

Be Careful what you Preach!

2010-12-13T13:59:00.008-05:00

This year's local Children's Christmas parade was a chilling event. Instead of our usual 75 degress in Florida, it was in the 50's. More chilling was the group from FamilyRadio.com handing out their blasphemous message proclaiming the end of the world.

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (Matthew 24:36)

I found it very difficult to try and talk to these people as they were handing this message out. They would say "Here's some information from the Bible". This parade is mostly for youngsters. It would not be a wise thing to have them see a disagreement among, whom they perceive, as Christians. This group takes a few scriptures, calculates the date of the flood, adds 7000 years and comes up with the date of May 21, 2011.

Harold Camping (FamilyRadio.com) conveniently ignores the second half of 2 Peter 3:8, “and a thousand years as one day.” 2 Peter 3:8 is not providing a method for dating the end times - Peter is saying that God is above and beyond time. Second, nothing in the context of Genesis 7:4-11 indicates that the “seven days” and “seventeenth day of the second month” are to be interpreted as applying to anything other than what God was specifically saying to Noah. Third, the Flood being dated to 4990 B.C. is speculative at best, with no explicit biblical evidence. Camping’s calculation of May 21, 2011 falls apart with even the most basic biblical scrutiny. Jesus may be coming back on May 21, 2011? Or He will come back on some other date. Does Harold Camping’s particular dating methodology have any biblical validity? No! Assuming that Jesus does not return on or before May 21, 2011, Camping, and others, will surely calculate new future dates and will attempt to explain away mistakes by “errors in the formula” or something to that effect.

The key points are: (1) the Bible nowhere encourages us to attempt to discover the timing of Jesus’ return, and (2) the Bible gives no explicit data by which the timing of Jesus’ return can be determined. Rather than developing wild and speculative calculations to determine when Jesus is coming back, the Bible encourages us to “keep watch” and “be ready” (Matthew 24:42-44). The fact that the day of Jesus’ return is unknown is what should motivate us to live every day in light of the imminence of Christ’s return.

fyi: On Sept. 6, 1994, dozens of Camping's believers gathered inside Alameda's Veterans Memorial Building to await the return of Christ, an event Camping had promised for two years. Followers dressed children in their Sunday best and held Bibles open-faced toward heaven. But the world did not end. Camping allowed that he may have made a mathematical error. He spent the next decade running new calculations, as well as overseeing a media company that has grown significantly in size and reach.

Why do I say it's a blasphemous message?
Because by saying you know the exact day and hour, says you know as much as God.
And you don't - God is timeless, infinite, and eternal.

I ignored their presence and delivered about 150 tracts into the kids, and their parents' hands.

May this FamilyRadio group come to Repentance.....

Take the time.

2010-12-12T22:25:00.007-05:00

Ever think it's too much of a pain to return something? I know I do.... but I'm sure glad I didn't do that today.

After talking to Chenise about this $9 item for over 15 minutes I'll admit to being aggravated. But suddenly I came to my senses. This wasn't about the light bulb I was trying to return. It was about the light bulb that had just come on in my heart!! This was really about the soul of the person on the other end of the phone.

While Chenise typed I asked her if I could ask her some questions. She agreed readily. I asked her where she would go when she died. She told me that she was going to Heaven.

"Why will God let you in?" I queried.

"I go to church and live my life according to His ways," she said.

"Well, think about your whole life, how many times have you lied?" I asked her.

"Wow, ummmm I have no idea...a lot." Chenise admitted.

"Did you know that scripture says "no liar shall enter Heaven"?

"No...."

"Have you ever stolen anything? I mean, even one minute on the time clock?"

"Well, when I was little..."

"That makes us thieves."

Chenise was getting more quiet all the time.

"Ever use the phrase OMG Chenise? Because that is blasphemy."

Chenise admitted to all of these but didn't want to think that God would condemn her. We talked about simply apologizing to a judge in court and expecting to be set free. She thought God would be more lenient than a human judge.

"Do you think a pedophile should be set free if his uncle is the judge presiding over his case?"

She adamantly declared that he should not.

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Psalm 5 says that God is holy and cannot dwell with evildoers and lawbreakers. Revelation 21:8 states that all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire...we deserve Hell Chenise, but do you know what God did so we don't have to go there?"

"Yes, He died on the cross." she said, gaining confidence.

"Did you know that simply being aware of that will not get you into Heaven? You see the demons know all of that, too. They are not destined for Heaven, are they?"

"No, they're not." She became quietly serious again.

"Chenise, God's desire is that we humble ourselves before Him and repent- not just apologize but turn away from our sin and follow Jesus with our whole heart and life. Do you think this information is important?" I asked.

"Oh, absolutely!"

"Chenise, I hope that you will seriously consider the things we've talked about. Does it make sense?"

"Oh yes, perfect sense. I will consider this."

"I don't know you but I'd sure like to see you in Heaven."

I could hear joy in her voice as she said, "Oh, I believe you will. God bless you!"

It would have been so easy to miss this opportunity....glad I didn't.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Evangelism at Florida Inst. of Tech.

2010-11-18T02:59:00.001-05:00

Shopping in the Millennium?

2010-11-14T14:58:00.002-05:00

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I'm sure there are others out there who despise the ridiculous music we play at Christmas. I'm talking about songs like "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", the Chipmunk song and others like it. They do nothing to declare the glory and majesty of the Messiah. This video made me think of what it could be like if we all worshipped Christ in all things....even shopping!!

Kilroy was here....

2010-11-02T15:38:00.002-04:00

This weekend at the beach offered several opportunities to preach the Gospel. I spoke to a 15 year old – said his name was Kilroy.

I heard all the new age stuff. There are many religions, including the worship of the Egyptian sun god who have 12 disciples and a leader who died, was buried and raised after 3 days. I asked who besides this Egyptian sun god and Christianity offers this? He said he did not know off hand.

We discussed many things and I took him to the Law. He admitted he was guilty but would not go to Hell because he does not believe in Hell. I advised him that it does not matter what he believes but what is true – that matters.

After 20 minutes of going back and forth and answering all the usual points like man wrote the Bible, the Bible was re-written by the Nicene council (amazing – when I was 15 I never heard of the Nicene council), God cannot be at all places as all time, world created by Big Bang, etc. etc.

Anyway, by the end of our talk, Kilroy received the Truth and a clear and concise presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I left him with “Why Christianity”.
I will be praying for him.

New World Order and Chemtrails....

2010-10-19T02:00:00.000-04:00

This Friday was the Friday at Fifth Fall event in Indialantic, FL. It’s a great event for FFM and we have our Good Person tent setup. We started using the Einstein poster which is a great attraction. You ask some questions to show their heart and brain is not always right and they can be deceived. Then you go on the Good Person test using the Law and of course, they fail as “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Rom 3:23.

Many people took the tests and we (Dayna, Diana, Steve and myself) were able to ask the ultimate question – will you go to heaven when you die? Of course you get all kinds of responses but our mission is to preach the Gospel.

Steve was talking to a woman with a 10 year old son and I over-heard parts of the conversation involving New World Order, little gods and more. Her son walked over the table. I asked if he believed in God and I entered into one of the most bizarre and discouraging conversations in a long time.
Boy: there is no such thing as God, we are here as little gods to be controlled by the New World Order

“Where did you get this information?”

The Internet

“What makes the internet right?”

Because it is and don’t you know we came here as aliens and as little gods to me under the control of the New World Order?

Again he said he gets this off the internet and from his mother. I did not want to say anything about his mother but I was not going to let this go by without explaining this entire universe was created by a Creator God as was mankind. We are not little gods.

He said that we were all affected by chem-trails and everything we eat is poisoned with particles to keep us under control by the new world order.
It was frightening listening to this 10 year old and how his mother and others have corrupted his mind with this garbage. I gave him a Why Christianity booklet and he declined saying that we are ultimately under the man’s control and there is no God.

Pray for him (he would not give his name).

After this, came Richard. A 30 something guy searching for the Truth. He was very interested in learning of Christianity. We went through the Good Person test and he acknowledged he was a sinner. I told him what he need to do to assure eternity in Heaven with the Lord. He asked some more questions. I asked if he ever read the Bible and he said he did not have one. He has many books but doesn’t think he has one. I offered him one and he said he would stop back on his way out. We packed up at 9P and I had the Bible and another book held out. No Richard – so we finished packing the car and then I looked up and there was Richard – he asked if he could still have the Bible. I was so pleased for him and he also got One Heartbeat Away. Pray for Richard.

We were very blessed and will be praying for all who heard the Word.

The graduation of James Richard

2010-10-14T11:09:00.012-04:00

Well, this post has been weeks in the making. Most of you are aware that we have been conducting our first-ever Way of the Master Basic Training Course, inside the nursing home! It has really been an exciting experience. Whenever you are inside of a facility like a nursing home, where everyone works so closely together, you really have a chance to impact many, many lives. Such was the case while going through this course.

When we met for the first week's class 'James' straightened me out on his name. "My given name is James Richard H., but since I was born I've gone by Richard. After I came into the nursing home people called me James because it is legally my first name, but I am Richard." You know, this was nice to know because I had called him James for over a year. People like to be addressed correctly. By the way, so does God.

Richard has worked so very hard for the duration of this class. The spiritual warfare can at times be grueling. Add to that, physical hardships and environmental stresses. Many times people drop out of the course during the 8 week period. Not so for Richard. Every week, he had his homework done properly and on-time.

He told us right from the beginning that he didn't want to deceive us or give us the wrong impression..."I'm not sure I'll be able to come out on the street with you all." We still laugh at that statement. I told him not to worry about that at all.

"I'm sure in the not-too-distant future that we will no longer be allowed into these facilities, Richard. At that point you'll be our man on the inside, see?" He smiled widely at that. It was only a few weeks later that Richard excitedly told us about his first encounter. He got to talk to one of the new guys about the Lord. He even went down to the on-site library to see if there was a Bible available for him.

This class was conducted by Steve, Dayna, Allyson and me. Richard got the benefit of many teachers, and it worked out to be a good thing. He also got the prayer support of the entire team as well as the physical support in conducting this fishing expedition. Pictured here are Allyson and Richard in front; Mary, Steve, Dayna, Jen, Diana and Dave. Dennis was slated with taking the picture.

We celebrated Saturday with a little party. Richard was very pleased to be presented with a graduation certificate from the class that he so proudly earned. We framed it and hung it on his wall. After the goodies were unwrapped we all went 'fishing'. Richard went with Steve and Dave and had a great conversation with and elderly Irish lady who was Catholic. The rest of us went in different directions in search of lost souls.

Luke 10:2 And He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Richard plans on continuing his education by studying now with the School of Biblical Evangelism textbook. I'm so glad this is offered in a textbook as well as the on-line school from Living Waters

Go ye therefore and make mistakes!!

Friday Night in Melbourne, FL

2010-10-09T14:33:00.001-04:00

Melbourne Florida’s monthly Friday Fest brought out its ‘best’. There were many opportunities for us to witness and preach the Gospel. We had our “Are You a Good Person?” booth setup to invite the question to be asked.

It is interesting that this is touted as a family event but not exactly what I would call a family event. However, it’s a great place to preach the Gospel and try and reach the lost as we are commanded to do.

Wes, Justin and Ken were out with us as well open air preaching. Dayna is trying to explain to this fellow how lost he really is but he was a very proud person. She did her part, now it’s up to him and the Holy Spirit.

Dave is giving the intelligence test to these young ladies. These four questions are followed up by the Good Person test – they all failed – just as we all do! “No one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
(Romans 3:11-12)

The Einstein poster and tests were a great ‘magnet’ to attract people. Or maybe it was the $20 reward to those who passed the good person test.

By 9 O’clock most people were getting too drunk to make any sense with so we shut it down and went home….

Next time you get Spam - seize the opportunity!

2010-09-21T06:46:00.000-04:00

This is from an incredible Saint who received a chain email.
The chain email is first then, her response.

BANK ACCOUNT!!!
This is AWESOME ... something we should all remember.
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed
each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and
shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing
home today.
His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home,
he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.
As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual
description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been
hung on his window. I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an
eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'
'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.
Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is
arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.
'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice;
I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the
parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful
for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new
day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in
my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank
account of memories!
Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still
depositing.
'Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
Pass this message to 7 people except me. You will receive a miracle
tomorrow.
Now, STOP! Did you hear what I just said. You WILL receive a miracle
Tomorrow. So send it right now!
Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.

====
Dayna's Response forwarded to the dozen of recipients on the email chain.

Hello everyone. Most of you do not know me, but I was included on this mass email chain for a reason, and am being led to respond to it. I pray the response blesses you.

I saw this email circulate about three years ago, and I thought it had a good message. After having been through many, many trials in my life at that time, I thought "this is a great way to look at life, I am going to try it." Well, that is all I could do, try, but I was not successful because I alone did not have the power to accomplish any of the five simple rules. Let's face it, how many of you have been able to free your mind from worries? Or better yet, how many of you who are truly honest can free your heart from hatred?

Three years ago when I received this email, I was faced with surgery and possible cancer. With that news, I had one single thought, "if I die, where will I go?" Is there an eternity? If so, is there an Heaven and an Hell? Have I done enough good in my life to make up for the bad? Oh, people that knew me wouldn't say I was a bad person, but that was because they only saw a very short snapshot of my life, and because they could not see into my heart or my mind to know what I was thinking or the real reason why I did "good things" to help people. Trust me, my motives were all purely selfish.

Finally, the night before surgery, that thought was so heavy on my mind, I told my husband, "if I die tomorrow, I am going to hell, I know it." Praise the Lord He gave me that revelation because He caused me to seek Him. A few short months later, I found Him and repented and surrendered my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Now and only now, can I apply the five simple rules listed below. Before the Holy Spirit came to live in me there was absolutely no way I could free my heart from hatred or expect less...people always disappointed me! That was because I did not know God's love. Romans 5:8 says "But God commandeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I challenge all of you to try to follow the five simple rules listed below with your own power and strength, and when you fail, which I know you will, I challenge you to seek God with all your heart. The Bible says Deut 4:29 "...thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul." If you do that, God truly will reveal Himself to you (because God cannot lie). Then when you find Him, run to Him because He will be waiting for you with open arms. You must repent (turn from sin) and surrender your whole heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, but once you do, all the stuff of this world will no longer matter to you. You will truly have a heart free from hatred and a mind free from worries. The material things will not matter so you will definitely live simply, and because of that, you will give more because now you will have a lot more money! Finally, you will stop expecting anything because you will know how unworthy you were of the gift God gave you.

I send this email because the Holy Spirit directed me to do so. Please consider it and seek God's wisdom for the answers, not man's. I followed man's wisdom for 42 years and it only ever brought me heartache, even if I never voiced that heartache to people around me, I had it, and I was in so much emotional pain. Here's the deal, everyone of us has lied and stolen something at one point in our lives, and if you are honest, you will admit that. Because of that, we have broken God's law, the Ten Commandments, which separates us from God in this life, and will guarantee us eternity in Hell after we die. I do not want that for any of you and I do not even know you. But, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to live a perfect life and be a perfect sacrifice for you, me, and all mankind. When Jesus Christ willing went to the cross and shed His innocent blood for us, He paid our fine for us. He took upon Himself the full wrath of God for our sins. Wow! Then on the third day, He was raised from the dead, defeating death, sin, and Hell. It is that power and that power alone that can give us eternal life. God made the way for us to be reconciled with Him and spend eternity in Heaven, but He left that choice up to you, me, and all mankind. What choice will you make? You are not getting this email by accident. There are no such things accidents or coincidences. You are getting this email because God is calling you. The Bible says we only love God because He first loved us. I pray you make the choice to repent and follow God and the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart today. Remember, by not making a choice, you are making a choice and it is "no God, not Your will but mine," and if that is your choice, God will honor it when you die.

I pray you have a blessed day!

Sincerest Regards,

What would you say in 30 seconds?

2010-09-20T01:00:00.002-04:00

I was watching one of the life guards hoist the no swimming warning flag today and gave him a Trillion Dollars for his efforts. The guard – Andrew thanked me then stopped to read it.

He told me he was a Believer but not quite sure of a few things. He said he repented but wanted to know more of what the word and action really meant. I explained that it is not just saying you’re sorry but a deliberate action by you to want to change, tell God you are sorry for all the things you did against Him and that you want Him to help you change. It means you must make a 180 degree turn from your sin; it is an action on your part. And you really need to pray with a humble heart to God to help keep you on that direction away from sin.

I asked him if he went to rescue someone, pulled them back in from the surf and knew they had 30 seconds to live and wanted to go to heaven, what would you tell him?? He said he could not tell anyone in 30 seconds. I reminded him of the thieves on the cross on each side of Jesus when He was crucified. Andrew said he remembered the story and then I suggested to him it only takes about 30 seconds to read it. I summarized it for him and reminded Andrew that the thief who knew of Jesus and admitted he was guilty and deserved the punishment, but Jesus did not, was told he would be in Paradise with Jesus.

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:32-43)

We spoke some more and he asked some more great questions. He needs some in depth study and discipleship. I suggested getting some materials from John MacArthur, John Piper, LivingWaters.com and some other solid Biblical teachers. Many are free on-line in downloadable print or MP3.

He thanked me and off he went to save lives from the surf!

The False Gospel needs to be Stopped

2010-09-18T16:06:00.002-04:00

I met Sara and her husband today while handing out tracts at the beach. Both were in Narcotics Anonymous and Sara has a “Christian Counselor” who was a Christian all her life. More comments about what Sara said about this person follows. Now you know why it’s in quote marks…..

We talked about the law and if she ever really repented and understood what Jesus’ Death Burial and Resurrection really meant. She was not too sure but knew when she read the Bible God spoke to her. That’s between her and God and I did not get into that discussion. She told me that her one real question is about the people who never hear about Jesus and why they would not go to Heaven. Sara would not use the word Hell. She wanted my opinion on that question but then went on to say, her counselor talks about that all of us our Children of God and one day we will all bow before Jesus.

I explained we are all creations of God but only Believers are Children of God. This is explained throughout the Bible. As far as everyone bending their knees before Jesus I said that everyone will not go to heaven and Jesus made it clear that many will say Lord, Lord and He will say go away I never knew you, you worker of lawlessness. Sara was very surprised. Seems like her counselor friend only gave part of the truth.

We got back to the question about not everyone hearing about the name of Jesus and whether that person would go to Hell because of this. My opinion of this, as I explained to her is God has put the Law on everyone’s hearts and there has never been any group ‘discovered’ that did not have some basic moral principles of lying, stealing, adultery, etc. God knows what is on the person’s heart and He will reveal truth to them. Exactly what and how that happens is up to God.

I took Sara through the Law and the payment Jesus made on the Cross. But it’s up to the repentant person to also to want this payment Jesus made for us. Sara mentioned accepting Jesus into your heart. I suggested to her - Don’t confuse the modern Gospel fluff about acceptance of Jesus it is nowhere in Scripture. Jesus does not need our acceptance but our surrender.

Sara and her husband walked away in a good mood and pleased they heard the truth.

To God be the Glory

2010-09-12T14:55:00.001-04:00

From David:

I was at Indialantic this morning with Jeff and had an opportunity to
be witness to the Good, the Bad, and the Glorious.

the Good
We had an opportunity to share the Gospel with Garrett, a young man
who attends church in Viera with his girlfriend. Please pray for
Garrett.

We had an opportunity to invite Ron, a local Christ-follower and
former seminary student, to attend an evangelism class at a local church and to learn
about another way to share his faith.

the Bad
It was hot, with a heat index of over 100 degrees, with few people on
the boardwalk, and most wanting to be on the beach or in their
air-conditioned cars.

Jeff got a $15 parking ticket from the ever-vigilent meter patrol
while he was deeply engaged with Lisa and Megan. For the cost of a
parking ticket, we got to be witness to...

the Glorious
Lisa, the mom, and Megan, the daughter, recognized their true sinful
nature, repented of their sins, and surrendered their hearts and lives
to Jesus. The angels are rejoicing in heaven this day over a mother
and daughter accepting Christ.

Is sharing our faith worth it all? A thousand times over!

We serve an awesome, incredible, amazing, incomprehensible Lord. To
Him be the glory!

No Language Barriers for the Gospel!

2010-09-01T11:45:00.006-04:00

Carrying tracts in multiple languages can really open doors! I have a small plastic bag with tracts in different languages such as German, French, Arabic, etc. I only keep about 10 or so of each, except if I am traveling to a place where a specific language is spoken, then I take a few hundred.

While waiting ( a common occurrence in my work) for my flight to leave, I went to get a coffee. I heard the couple in front of me speaking German. They left and I got my coffee, set my bag down to fish out the pack of German tracts, a little disappointed I was not fast enough - always be prepared! Then I heard someone behind me say “Are these seats taken?” I turned and there was the German couple, who I invited not only to sit down but I’ll give them each a million Euros to do so. They thanked me for the tracts but were focused on something else, so I left them to read the tract.

On the way to my gate, I walked by a flight boarding to Vienna. The Holy Spirit got my attention and reminded me that I have these tracts and they don’t do any good for me to carry around. I got out the German tracts I had just put away and started to give them out. This fellow was interested and then his wife returned and scoffed when she read it. I went back to talk to him but the flight was boarding and he had to leave. Well – they had a 9 hour flight to read the Gospel message.

So now I see a new fishing ground – the gates for departing flights where I can give out tracts in whatever language they are speaking. There is always the English version but when a person receives a tract in their native tongue, they are much more likely to read it.

FFMMinistries.com has links for tracts you can download for free.

Cancel That Subscription!!

2010-08-26T07:03:00.001-04:00

Anyone who still reads Christianity Today should take a long, hard look at this article...and wake up.

Notice - NASA post removed

2010-08-25T10:04:00.003-04:00

We removed the previous post about NASA and the "Missing Day".
There was too much conflicting information and nothing could be verified.

We are sorry for the confusion....we know they'll find out it's true one day, hopefully before it's too late!

Evangelism Training in the Philippines

2010-08-15T17:21:00.006-04:00

The August Evangelism Training was just completed in Cebu City, Philippines.
Here's the report from Dennis at Living Waters-Asia.

The seminar at Cebu City, with the help of Living Word Christian
Ministries, Inc., was a big success by God's grace. There were delegates
from different churches in the island as well as delegates from the other
major island of the Philippines, Mindanao.

We also had Filipino Christians coming all the way from Australia. An American and a Canadian were also present in the event. Everyone appreciated the things discussed
on the four lectures that I did. There was one delegate who, before the seminar, was thinking of quitting the ministry as the pastors in their area have been criticizing her for including a talk of hell and sin in her street evangelism activities. she testified after the seminar that she is raring to go back to her province as the seminar confirmed to her that she was sharing a biblical message. She had a renewed zeal to serve or Master after the event. A lot of young Christians were also around and they were the ones who had so many questions during the Q & A. After the event,
they bought several Gospel tracts to arm themselves for the battle they
will be facing as they win the lost for Christ.

Future WOTM seminars are also in the works as a result of the event as
church leaders in attendance have expressed desire to invite us to do the
same training for churches in their respective provinces.

It was a very tiring weekend for me and the team, but it was all worth it
as the service was done for our Master.

How are you sharing?

2010-08-05T07:08:00.001-04:00

Our friend Rob sent a note to us the other day and he gave us permission to share it...he makes an excellent point about the WAY we should share.

I received a call from Wells Fargo inviting me to buy a particular type of insurance. I informed her I have turned this down twice previously but that I did have a question for her.

She said sure. I said, “If you die tonight, do you know where you are going?”. She asked me to repeat the question and then she said she was going to heaven. I asked her how she knew. She replied she just knew. I asked her if it was because she was a good person and she answered yes. I quoted Hebrews 9:27 and said, “you know, Jesus has been appointed the judge on Judgment Day and he will essentially be using the 10 commandments to make his decision (unless we are covered by His blood which I did not share at this point – of course). I asked her how many lies she had told in her life. She was very uncomfortable with the question and she replied she didn’t call me to talk about that and so I said if she ever wanted to make sure where she was going to spend eternity, to call me again.

So this was my first effort to witness to people on the phone, thanks to Steve. I was obedient to the Holy Spirit. That is my job, to be obedient in love. I was nice to her which this email does not convey and even listened to her entire spiel. If we don’t do it in love, we are like a clanging symbol and are of no use to the Creator.

Thanks for your help and encouragement.

In Jesus,

Rob

1 Corinthians 13:1
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Thank you Rob, for your faithfulness!

A SAD - SAD World

2010-08-03T08:19:00.004-04:00

From Exodus 20:1-10 And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ...

On a business trip to Monaco/Monte Carlo (yes someone had to go….) I tried to hand out some of the many French tracts I brought with me while I was waiting between meetings. Sadly, only very few people would take them. I tried to hand them to all age groups – but no takers. As you can see from these 2 pictures the locals and most visitors had their ‘gods’ in this earthly world. The name on this boat sums it up.

I finally decided to leave the tracts where ever I could - phone kiosks, benches, bus seats, etc. I did manage to leave over 100.

Now the GOOD NEWS. At breakfast, I noticed a big smudge on my coffee cup when Saleem, the Tunisian server gave it to me. I pointed it out and he said it was not from him - we had a good laugh. He came back a few minutes later and said it was very rare to have that kind of mistake happen and the customer laugh instead of getting angry. I told him it was because I was a new person in God through His Son Jesus. I gave him a French tract and "Why Christianity" booklet. The other servers saw this, and I had an opportunity to witness, though it was less than a minute as other customers were showing up. They all got tracts and the Gospel in a few seconds.

PLEASE pray for the lost souls in this world.

Be Ready in and out of Season

2010-07-30T09:49:00.004-04:00

Please see this incredible witnessing video. As you read or listen to the story you will see he ATTENDED church.

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works?
(Matthew 7:21-22)

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1859729971?bctid=326008524001

Nayara Goncalves already experienced one of the ``biggest moments'' of her life: becoming a Christian.

The second came on July 23, when the 20-year-old cellphone store manager put her good works to good use -- persuading a would-be armed robber to put away his gun and leave her store in the name of the Lord.

Every moment of the more than five-minute exchange between a calm Goncalves and the nervous, unidentified robber was captured on a store surveillance camera.

The robber walked into the MetroPCS store on Cypress Road in Pompano Beach wearing a dark cap and jacket and holding an umbrella.

He exchanges pleasantries with Goncalves, asking whether she was keeping dry, then asks to see a phone.

Moments later, he reaches into his coat, apparently showing her a gun. He apologizes: ``I really hate to do this. . . . Don't be scared.''

``I'm not scared,'' replies Goncalves, a devout Christian who was working alone. She calmly walks back to her cash register, telling the man, ``You can do whatever you want, but I'm just going to talk to you about Jesus, my God, before you leave.''

The man momentarily pauses, and says, ``God bless you for that.''
Goncalves tells him she is a Christian. He replies sheepishly, ``So am I and I absolutely hate doing this. I do. I'm embarrassed to do this. But I have no choice.''

He says he has attended Calvary Chapel.

``Calvary Chapel?'' ``Pastor Bob?'' Goncalves asks, saying she has visited there.

Yes, the robber replies, ``Pastor Bob.''

``I'm so sorry to put you through this,'' he says.

Attempts by The Miami Herald on Thursday night to reach Pastor Bob Coy at Calvary Chapel in North Broward were unsuccessful.

Goncalves continues to talk to the man, giving soothing responses of ``I know, I know,'' as he opens up about his troubles -- telling Goncalves he's married, has a job, and that he needed $300 to stave off eviction.

As if sensing an opening, Goncalves continues, her voice breaking for a split second, ``I don't know what you're going through. But all of us are going through a hard time right now.''

We're Running Out of Time

2010-07-19T07:45:00.004-04:00

Acts 13:38-39 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Envelope Evangelism

2010-07-18T16:33:00.004-04:00

Ok, there really is no excuse. It doesn't matter if you NEVER leave your house....you can still tell others about Jesus.

We have posted before about using those return envelopes, by putting tracts in them and sending them on their way. And about paying your bills and putting tracts in those.

Here's another way for us to share. The other day I was sending out a birthday card to a friend. After sealing it I saw a blank canvas and used it accordingly! Imagine how many people saw that envelope on the way to my friend, Diana.

Diana said that when she got to her mailbox and saw that envelope in a whole box full of mail she stood right there in the hot sun and read the whole thing!! Praise the Lord! We figured out that it should have taken 1 day to reach her and it took 3 days. Maybe people had to hold on to it to read it! I didn't put a return address on it, purposefully. I didn't want it returned.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Calling All Mormons

2010-07-16T22:10:00.005-04:00

Please listen to Todd Friel's response to Glenn Beck's recent Gospel message.
(Note - you may have to wait a few seconds for the audio player to appear)

Appointed Time

2010-07-09T07:05:00.001-04:00

On the way to the nursing home this morning I prayed that the Lord would lead me to the right person. There are so many people in these facilities. Honestly, you could simply go to one facility and meet new people every week. Death comes to us all but it is often met here. People also move to another facility or go into the hospital as well, so there are never enough laborers to get to every person.

James stopped me coming in the door to talk a moment. Then he asked if I would give him a push back to his room. As we arrived I remembered a woman that I wanted to stop in and see. As I was checking my notes, someone said 'hello'. Barbara was friendly and easy to talk to. She was cautious at first, though.

"What is it you want?" she asked.

"I am just a volunteer and I want to meet you." I smiled. I started off with some simple questions. "Where are you from, originally?" Barbara told me about her kids, now grown and gone. She was in her eighties, after all.

"My daughter Christine has been sick for 12 years." I thought of the woman with an issue of blood that had gone to Jesus for help.

"That's awful to be sick for so long. Can I pray for her right now?" I prayed that Christine would be comforted and that she would seek God. I prayed that Barbara would open her heart to the Truth.

"Thank you for praying for us, that was so nice."

"Do you go to church around here?" I asked her. I try not to speak of their life in the past. Most always have the hope that they will leave the home one day.

"Oh, I never went to church." she said. She told me that she lived across from a JW Kingdom Hall for a long time. "They were always knocking on my door, every Saturday! I always ran them off." she laughed.

We talked about God and what Barbara thought about eternity. We went thru the Law. Barbara got big tears in her eyes and began to cry.

"I did something very bad a long time ago...I was pregnant and the doctor came to me and told me that he could not save both me and the baby. I had an abortion. It's murder, isn't it? Will God ever forgive me for that??"

"It is murder, Barbara but God can forgive everything. You must go to Him and ask." I explained that to repent means to turn your back on your sin. "We can't tote our sin along and expect God to welcome us".

After Barbara prayed she wiped her tears away. "Do I need to get baptized?" We talked about that a moment and then she made a great statement. "We need to tell other people, don't we?"

That's twice in as many weeks that someone newly saved has known this. Really no excuse for someone to be redeemed and not say a word....makes you think twice.

Ezekiel 3:17-19 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Hearing From God Without Any Help From Edgar Cayce.

2010-07-06T21:06:00.006-04:00

A year ago when James came in, he would not allow me to talk with him about God and he was rather cold in general. A few months went by and our contact was relegated to general greetings and on occasion the beginning of a conversation, which he would quickly shut down. In an Intermediate training class I gave the assignment of visiting the nursing home to some students, who immediately took me up on it.

Dave was in the hallway near James' room and I asked him if he would like to go talk to James. He went in and was in there for a little while. When he came out he smiled and told me that they had a nice visit. I was a bit surprised and very pleased.

Since that time I have been dropping off books for James and leaving them on top of his bed. He is a voracious reader, never without a book. I never told him it was me, but last week he stopped and asked if it was. I confirmed his suspicions.

"Well, I am reading my Bible every day you know." he said.

I was floored. I smiled at him. "No, I didn't but that is great James!"

"Well, it's the Word of God and I really want to know it." he said with a slight smile.

This week he stopped Allyson and I as we walked past his room. He asked if he could ask a question of us.

"Sure, James...what's up?"

"How many people do you see?" he asked.

"Well we try to see every one, but we are only able to see a few each week."

"Well...I know you guys talk to people...and I'm a little confused. I mean, I'm not sure how...well, I want to bear fruit!"

We smiled at him. Allyson explained to him that he was bearing fruit with his testimony already. "You know James, this is quite a statement from a guy who was reading Edgar Cayce when he came in." We all laughed.

"Well, I want to know how to, you know, talk to people!" he smiled. (Wow.)

We've decided that James needs an evangelism class and we are going to arrange one just for him. We'll definitely keep you posted on this one.

John 5:25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Is This Your Best Life Now?

2010-07-02T09:39:00.005-04:00

We had just started watching the video for an evangelism class last night, when the door of the church opened. I noticed a woman walk in and stare. She had a slight smile on her face.

Dayna quickly got up and went to meet her. They stepped outside and talked as we continued to watch the footage. Near the end of the video Dayna walked back in to let me know that the woman was crying because she just lost her son-in-law. Dayna took over the class while I went outside.

The woman introduced herself as Alexa. She spoke of her son-in-law, and how her daughter and 5-year-old grandson were grieving. She told me that she attended the mega-church on the mainland.

"I have just gotten off of Welfare and Food Stamps. I just got a job at a retirement home cleaning toilets. My life that I knew is gone, but I know that God will take care of me! He is showing me that I can't hold on to anything but Him. I know that even if He holds me by a single thread from going over the edge-He will do it!"

"How did you find us here? What made you come in?" I asked her.

"Well, I was at home and I didn't want to sit there and cry so I was on my way over to the beach to cry!" she laughed at this. "Something told me to turn in here so I did!"

I urged her to contact our pastor to talk, since she lived here on the island. She said she might do that. I prayed with her and we talked a bit more about life in general, specifically how it doesn't meet our expectations sometimes.

"Will you wait here a moment? I want to give you a book." I went inside to grab a couple of Ray Comfort's newest book 'God Has A Wonderful Plan For Your Life'.

"Obviously, this book has a sarcastic title, right?" I commented.

"Right...this life is hard." she said.

Job_5:6-7 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.

Job_14:1 "Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.

Psalms 90:10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Psalms 62:7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Florida school district bans Bibles on Religious Freedom Day.

2010-07-02T09:11:00.007-04:00

Obviously ridiculous, isn't it??

Maitland-based Liberty Counsel filed a lawsuit Thursday to overturn a ban on Bible distribution on public school campuses in Collier County. According to the Liberty Counsel, the Collier County School Board allowed World Changers to distribute free Bibles to students during off-school hours on Religious Freedom Day, but now the school officials claim that Bibles do not provide any educational benefit to the students and the distribution should stop.

The Collier County School District policy specifically allows the distribution of literature by nonprofit organizations, but only with the approval of the superintendent and the Community Request Committee, whose members are appointed by the superintendent. Approval was denied to World Changers, despite the fact that its distribution included a disclaimer of any school endorsement or sponsorship and that receiving a Bible was purely voluntary.

“How sad that on the eve of Independence Day, when we celebrate the religious and political freedom our forefathers won for us at the cost of much blood and great sacrifice, we are compelled to sue to protect the right simply to make free Bibles available to students in public schools,” said Mathew D. Staver, Liberty Counsel founder.

Click here to read the lawsuit

2 Timothy 4:3-5 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Europe Gets the Gospel

2010-07-01T14:34:00.007-04:00

What a great trip to Netherlands-Germany-England in only 4 days. I was able to share the Gospel with a lady on the way to Netherlands who said she was a Believer and when I gave her a copy of Ray Comfort’s Wonderful Life book – she really got interested. Read without stopping, even when we landed in Atlanta. She said she would continue and finish on her next flight.

I made it to the Netherlands on Monday and took a train down to Rotterdam for work. At lunch I was able to witness to a business colleague. I usually don’t mix the two but the conversation went the direction God directed. It was a great opportunity to talk about my testimony because he was going through a situation that was similar to mine that lead me to the Cross.

I saw many Muslims, probably more than non-Muslim. Statistics show that Muslims will exceed Christianity in Holland very soon. The photo is from a local paper showing a man “chewing for allah” – tobacco.

On to Germany… I was staying near the town of Hamelin. It is the supposed location of the fictional character Pied Piper so the city center is 'touristy' and blocked off with several pedestrian areas and allowed plenty of “fishing” sites. It was difficult to stop anyone and talk but I did hand out a lot of tracts. The picture is of 3 young boys interested in the tract (Million Euro World Cup) but did not want to engage in a conversation.

In England I traveled to a small village for a business meeting. There is a Castle there dating from 1100 AD and a great “fishing” spot. Many young people there and most were Goth or some variation of it. Extremely sad and there is an obvious absence of God. I did find the shopping area where you can find the missing link though!

All in all – about 250 tracts given out, “Why Christianity?” books left in hotel rooms and a “Wonderful Life” book now in the hands of one who really wants to learn about false converts.

Voicemail Problems

2010-06-24T08:41:00.000-04:00

Everyone kept bugging me about not being able to leave a message on my new phone. I hate change. I kept setting the recording up but friends just kept complaining.

Finally, I called for help. James came on the line and found that he could not help me after all.

"I can see that there is a problem but I've tried everything I know, so I need to get our technical department involved. Do you have any other questions for me?" (C'mon!)

"I do actually, James. But this question is off the beaten path-it's meant to make you think... where will you go after you die?"

"Well, I will go to Heaven to be with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died to set me free."

"Wow James, that's great! I love to hear that."

"Thank you for asking me. I have never had one of my customers ask me that question before! Wow."

"Do you share your faith, James?"

"Not often enough but I do like to use the Law. I like to watch Ray and Kirk on the Way of the Master."

"That's great! I hope you'll be encouraged to share your faith, James. We all come into contact with so many people who are probably on their way to Hell."

"I agree. Thank you. Now, I'll turn you over to Debbie in our technical department."

Debbie came on the line and found the problem after just a moment. "OK, we've got you all fixed up. Do you have any other questions for me?" (Really, I love this.)

"I do. I have a serious question for you, Debbie. Do you know where you will spend eternity?"

"Wow. Heaven, I hope."

We went quickly thru the Law. Debbie was honest and admitted that she was destined for Hell.

"I know that we are having this conversation for a reason. I needed a reminder."

"Debbie, God arranged this conversation for you. He is calling you. You have no idea if you will be here tomorrow. This is something you really cannot put off. I know you don't know me, but I really do care. I hope you'll give it some thought. Take care."

"Thank you, I will."

Pre-arranged bugs?

2010-06-22T07:08:00.001-04:00

This morning when I got up I asked God to put someone in my path who was searching for Him.

After doing some errands I stopped at the carwash. I was sitting on the long bench when all of the sudden a guy came and sat down-right next to me. No one else was there and he could have sat down about 8 feet away at the other end, but no.

"Hi" he spoke first. "I'm Steven."

"Hey. I'm Jen, how are you?" I asked him. I noticed he had a huge truck with a lift kit on it. "Wow, nice truck. I would definitely need a ladder to get in it."

"Thank you. Are you trying to get the love-bugs off of your truck?" In Florida we have a period of about a month when we get these bugs and they cover your car and everything else. They are actually acidic and need to be immediately washed from your vehicle.

"Yes, I am." Just then the guys signaled me that my truck was finished. I had to go. "Listen Steven, I want to give you something and I hope you'll read it." I handed him a Good Person tract.

"You know, this was meant to be because I'm trying to get my life on track spiritually", he said.

"Well, this will definitely get you where you need to be. I'm going to be praying for you Steven."

"Thanks", he smiled.

Why be surprised?

Are you a Christian? Do you share your faith?

2010-06-20T19:56:00.003-04:00

This is a sample of different encounters, not with the unsaved but those professing to be Believers. Here’s what I have heard over the last several weeks when handing out tracts.

"I am a Christian and I don’t need that tract."
I then say, how about taking this Gospel message and passing it on, I hear, I don’t do that kind of thing.

"I know I am going to Heaven."
When asked how they know, I hear because I accepted Jesus into my heart. When I tell them that is not in the Bible, they leave in a huff!

"I don’t believe in shoving my religion on people."
When I say, Jesus commanded us to preach the Gospel to all the world, he stormed off.

"I am a Christian and know I am going to Heaven."
I ask – if I came up to you and asked how to get to Heaven when I die, what would you tell me? The response was you have to love Jesus and believe in him. Then when asked what that means, I get no response. I say the demons believed - are they going to heaven? Nothing again and he left.

"I am a Christian."
I ask how often you share your faith? The response was we only have Christian friends and associate only with people in our church. I then asked why not share your faith with non-believers as we are commanded to do? No response and they walked away.

"I am a Christian and am going to heaven because Jesus paid my sin price and I have faith in Him, what He did on the cross, that He is God and I admitted my sins to him."
My response to someone like this is – that is really great news and one day we will see each other again. How often to you share your faith with others? Response is, "... not often enough."

You may read this and say I am condemning. I am only giving you a sample of responses I hear. Jesus said: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
(Matthew 28:19-20)

Trillion Dollar Question

2010-06-05T15:36:00.002-04:00

What a great day witnessing. I spoke with Eric and Lauren for a long time after they each received a Trillion Dollar Bill. Eric looked at the bill, turned it over and began to read it out loud. This was great because a few others heard him reading this Gospel message.

Eric said he was a believer and Lauren was too except she was not sure. Confusing – yes. As it turned out Eric said he had a chemical imbalance but under medication and this explained a few things about his focus and listening. Eric was very sincere and cared very much about Lauren. He said she would be going to heaven with him because he cared so much about her.

I asked Lauren her beliefs and he time, Eric would answer – Lauren said very little. I asked her if she believed in God and she said she was not sure but did not think so. We talked about creation and how did all the trees, the ocean, etc. get here? I explained about the building behind where we standing that there had to be a builder even though she did not see the builder.

Eric said she was a very caring person and did lots of good things. I asked Lauren about her guilt and innocence in breaking a few of God’s commandments and she acknowledged she had broken some. We talked about a local court room and how if she had hit someone with her car, and stood in front of the judge – would she be guilty or innocent. Lauren said guilty. I said the fine would be $10 million or life imprisonment – which would she have to take? She said life and I said that what if someone came into the court and said he would pay the $10 million on her behalf, would that not be a great thing? She said yes and I told her how the judge could accept that payment on her behalf and her fine would be settled – then he can legally let her go and dismiss the case as paid in full. This is what Jesus did - paid her fine because she could not because like all of us, we are not good enough

At this time Eric said again Lauren goes to church with him and she will be saved because of his belief. I used again the courtroom example and said if Eric went to the court and was there the whole time, would the judge set her free just because Eric was there? They both said no and seemed to get the connection that salvation is not through another person. I also explained to Lauren what “being saved” meant as it was used a few times and I gathered she did not know that this meant being saved from eternity in Hell separated from God forever.

I explained to Lauren that when the person came into the courtroom and offered to pay her fine, she could say no to that offer. She has the free will to reject this offer of payment. I told her so far, that is what she has done with the free offer of payment Jesus has made – it’s there but she has rejected it so far. I could see a reaction for the first time. Lauren is now thinking about this and the idea that sitting in church and hanging with a believer is not going to help her. She needs to make that decision for herself and its between her and God.

I left her with a Why Christianity book and of course her Trillion dollar bill.
Pray Lauren repents and puts her faith in Jesus.

Paulo hears - but did he listen??

2010-05-24T10:42:00.003-04:00

This Saturday I went to one of the usual fishing spots along the beach in central Florida. 3 other evangelists were there and out we went.

I was able to talk to a elderly couple who are in their mid-seventies. The man – Paulo instantly went into a lecture on the oil spill, BP, Big Oil, etc. Each time I interrupted him and tried to lead him into the spiritual, he reverted to his political agenda. This happens quite often as most people seem to grasp where you are going with the conversation and they don’t want to go there.

He finally took a breath and I said that God is in control and don’t you think if He wanted the oil to disappear that he could do that in less than a blink of the eye? Paulo did not agree and said it was man’s greed that caused the oil spill. I did not disagree because I wanted to take that idea of greed and go to the Law. That man is greedy and that has become many men’s god. Paulo did not believe that God could make the oil disappear so with that that I said it does not matter what he believes but what matters is what is true. His wife agreed. She quickly let me know she is a Believer but then was quiet – that was a good thing.

I took Paulo through a few of the commandments. I discussed with Paulo the idea of being in a civil court and someone making the payment for the fine that he could not pay. He has 2 choices – accept the payment that someone else made on his behalf or reject that payment. He understood this and I decided to give him the Gospel as we are commanded to. See Mark 16:15, 2 Timothy 4:2, and 1 John 4:15.

There are some who might say don’t give him the Gospel since he wasn’t repentant at this point. However, each witnessing situation is different. I think to apply Matthew 7:6 in all situations is not what we are commanded to do.

Paulo’s wife stayed a few moments as Paulo walked off and thanked me for talking to him. She said most of her family members are believers and they have been trying to reach him for years. She said this was truly a divine appointment and God had sent me there at that time to speak directly to Paulo.

Do not be ashamed of the Gospel. Romans 1:16

Look Familiar?

2010-05-11T14:27:00.004-04:00

Courtesy of NorthPoint Media

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

If this looks like your church, maybe it's time to move on?

EVANGELISM TRAINING - PHILIPPINES

2010-05-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

This is an incredible story of the hunger for Godly Evangelism Training in the World.

Just in from Dennis at Living Waters-Asia:

Yesterday (April 30, 2010) was a great day! Delegates coming from other churches (pastors and workers) totaled 118, plus people coming from the host church, our grand total was 143. The delegates came from different provinces which made the event extra successful as they will be the ones to bring the WOTM to their provinces. There were delegates that drove for 5 hours just to attend the training. After only the first session pastors were already asking me to also organize the same training at their province. You could hear the "AMENs" all over the hall as the truth about how evangelism should be done was explained. In attendance was a well regarded pastor (in his late 60s) from the Metro area of Manila. he has a big church. even him could not contain his appreciation that the principle was shared to them. There was one group who was even begging me to do a seminar in their area in the next two weeks.

Stay tuned for the next event this summer!

Just say the magic words....????

2010-04-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

Treading carefully,

Good-O-Meter

2010-04-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

The Word wins

2010-04-19T13:49:00.005-04:00

This past Friday at a local event we were able to bring the Word to many people. For the first time in a while, I spoke to many Believers who really encouraged us.

One of the first couples I spoke to were very interesting. The lady, recently from Russia was enjoying the Million Dollar Bills and her eyes brightened when I gave her a Russian tract. We find that having tracts in different languages is a real ice-breaker. The fellow with her said he was a Messianic Believer and was Jewish. I explained I was also was a Jewish Believer and we had a great conversation.

A lady with her son came over to take the Good Person test. I started with the son and asked him if he lied or had stolen anything which he admitted to. The mom interjected “he has been forgiven of everything”. I then asked, “When he stood in front of God would he be guilty or innocent?”
He admitted to being guilty and I said God was a just God and would have to send him to either Heaven or Hell and since you said you were guilty – where would you go?
The mom grabbed the boy and said “he has been forgiven and we are leaving” The boy pulled back and wanted to hear the rest of the story….The Word won and he heard the Gospel.

A local assistant pastor at a Presbyterian church came over to encourage us as well. He said something that is so true and most churches – his church does little for evangelism and many in the church don’t stray out of their comfort zone.

All in all a great night with the 6 evangelists and our Pastor coming out as well.

A Taste for Blood.

2010-04-16T07:19:00.002-04:00

As soon as I got to the event Saturday night, Dennis took me aside to let me know about a guy he had just met. He described this guy as 'having a taste for human blood'. Hmmmm. OK. He told me that he had tried talking to him but the guy told him that he had demons. Dennis said he was very unfocused and then he walked away.

Well, I watched him for a while. He seemed drawn to the kids at the event...not good. I told some of our fellow evangelists who were out that night and we prayed for him. All I could think of was that he was someone's child. I continued to watch him and then told one of the guys, EC that I was 'going in'.

As I walked near him I could see that he was absolutely filthy. His nails were all very long and you could immediately see dirt under them all. I also noticed that he had numerous scabs and sores covering his body. As I got closer I saw human bite marks on his exposed skin. I wondered how he compared to the maniac of Gadara.

"Hey, I like your shirt!" I said. "What's the cross for?"

"It's what Jesus did. See the skulls? They are death!!" He had a very strange look in his eyes while we talked.

"Yeah. What about this other cross? What's that about?" I asked. He mumbled something unintelligible. "Can we talk? Do you have time? You seem like a very interesting guy. Let's sit here."

He consented and we sat down. I told him my name and he told me his. He said he was 19. (I am going to change his name in this blog for his sake.)

"Do you live around here Tom?" He told me he did. He also told me that he was raised in 'the system' of foster care since he was very young. He told me that he had been sexually abused and mentally abused. He can not read or write.

"Then they threw me out on the street, now I live with my real Mom." As he spoke you could see he was under great pressure to try and focus. He was very aware of everything around him and yet he didn't look directly at anything.

"I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that." I told him. "I want to ask you some questions. Do you think you could answer some for me?" He nodded. "Where will you go when you die?" We talked a bit about the reality of Heaven and Hell. Tom didn't like the thought that he might end up in Hell but told me he didn't think he could go to Heaven because of some of the things he had done. I won't relate those things here.

"When Jesus hung on that cross He looked far into the future and saw your face, Tom. The Bible says that He bore all of our sins. He knew each one you would commit and He decided to pay for every one of them." At various points in our conversations I could see his muscles constrict and he would seem to go into a trance-like state.

"Do you believe that everyone has demons?" he asked me.

"No. But I do believe that some people have demons." I told him.

"I have demons." he said. "I see demons and angels and other things that people don't see." He quickly stood up and asked if I would come with him to go see a guy.

"Why do you need to see the guy?" I asked, fully aware that I had friends all around me but was not going to go beyond where they could see me.

"I want to get a cigarette." he said. At various points during the evening he would simply stand up and change the subject.
After he got the cigarette we walked away from the crowd a bit so that he could smoke it. "I tried to kill myself, I slit my wrists. I got hit by a car and thrown halfway into a parking lot." I thought of the father who took his demon-posessed boy to Jesus. (Luke 9) I found myself praying that the Lord would speak to this boy through his fog.

"I'm a destroyer! See that bicycle over there?" He pointed quickly at a bike across the parking lot. "I could tear it down and make weapons out of it! I can make a weapon out of anything." He told me that he sometimes fought even though he didn't want to. "I put the last guy in a full-body cast. When I was in jail I bit a huge hunk out of my arm because I didn't want to fight." Suddenly he got up and walked toward our booth.

Dayna was sitting on the slope behind the booth and I could see she was praying for us.

"Let's go sit over here with my friend, Dayna." While we sat with her I told Tom that the only one who could speak to God about his sin would be him.

"Yeah, I know. I talk to him alot." he said.

"The only thing He wants to hear from you is complete surrender." At this his eyes became wild and I could see the muscles in his arms and hands completely contort them. "Only you can do it and it may be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life." Dayna prayed as we talked. "If you think this is something that you can do then go ahead."

Tom talked a minute about how he could never close his eyes here. We told him he was safe and that the Lord would protect him if He made Him Master of his life.

"Have you ever played 'chicken' with a semi-truck?" he asked us.

"No."

"Well, I have and we were about this close when we finished" he measured about a foot's space.

"Well, you can't clean yourself up, Tom. You have to go to God and ask Him to cleanse you from all of this filth and sin that we talked about."

"Yeah, I know. I want to do that." he said.

"Do you need Jesus?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Can you say it?"

"Yeah." he answered but never said it.

"Tom if you want to talk to God go ahead." I invited. "I will pray for you and then you pray, ok?" He nodded.

I prayed out loud while Dayna prayed silently for us. Tom stared straight ahead with wild, staring eyes. His hands were contorted again and he looked as though he was fighting himself.

He bowed his head and started mumbling gibberish. He kept it up for a few minutes. Then he suddenly stood up and walked away from us.

I walked down to him and said, "Tom did you pray?"

He was very angry now and said, "Yeah I was praying in tongues, don't you know that?" And then very calmly he said, "They have crosses over at that table and I want one but I don't have any money."

We walked over to the table with him. The crosses were made from nails bound together with wire. He chose a purple one and Dayna bought it for him. The lady showed him how to adjust the leather and he put it around his neck. He stood still for a moment holding onto it.

"That cross won't protect you, you know that don't you? Only Jesus can save you, Tom".

"I know."

We parted ways and he took my hand twice saying thank you each time.

Please pray for him. God knows his real name.

Friday Night at the Street Festival...

2010-04-15T07:09:00.001-04:00

We have a monthly street festival here called Friday Fest and it brought out its usual lost people. There were many opportunities for us to witness and preach the Gospel. We had our “Are You a Good Person?” booth set up to invite people to take the Good Person test.

The event starts
around 6P and it’s best to talk to the folks early in the evening. There was the family of Wiccans who avoided us but were polite when declining the Gospel tracts. There were the “Christians” who did not want to take a tract because they were going to Heaven. So when asked if they knew others who were not going to heaven, they walked off in a huff.

There’s a local church that gives out red bracelets with the phrase “Living Dangerously” – they say that this bracelet helps them to identify with Jesus. Many folks I talk to with these bracelets actually tell me that they are going to heaven and hold up their arm with their bracelet. It as if the bracelet is getting them to Heaven. I asked them how they are getting to heaven and get told that they know Jesus or they have accepted Jesus or something other than what Jesus really did on the Cross. My point of this is while talking to a lady and her pre-teen son; she said she was going to Heaven. I asked how and she said she goes to this particular church but forgot her red bracelet tonight. Wow – I thought if one of the bracelet believers died without the bracelet on – where do they go? It’s between them and the Lord if they are truly saved.

I gave a Trillion Dollar bill (we use both millions and trillions now – inflation of course) to a man and the conversation started.

“Here’s a trillion dollars for you”

“What is it?”

“It has a Gospel message on it with the trillion dollar question – will you go to Heaven when you die?”

“I hope so, and I want to ask you something – who told you about the Bible and who tells you what’s in it?”

“God tells me as it is His Word?
A few other questions back and forth and he was pushing to get into an argument about something but not sure where it was going yet.

“My brother committed the ultimate sin and committed suicide and cannot go to Heaven”

“You or I don’t know where he went, that is between him and God and you don’t know what happened between them, even to the end” I knew this was leading to an argument as he was getting louder and into my face a bit more. “You need to be more concerned where you are going when you die. If your brother went to Heaven, then you better be sure you are or you will never see him again, Are you Catholic”

He smiled, and said he was born Catholic and that it is the only church and there is no way I can stand out here and know what the Bible says because you must be told by someone with greater knowledge than me.

My reply, “I have been told with someone greater than me – God through the Holy Spirit”
Off he went and then got stopped by Jennifer…..

Wes and Justin showed with their cross and started to open air preach. It went OK and only a few people getting upset with the Truth. I was led to preach as well.

All in all – several tracts and some Bibles now in the hands of people who need them.
By 9 O’clock we were all pretty well mentally exhausted and all had big days on Saturday, we shut it down and went home….

Spring Family Fest

2010-04-14T07:25:00.000-04:00

This Saturday, our church, along with 2 others in the area sponsored a Family Spring Fest with kid's bounce house, pop corn, hot dogs and all the usual kids stuff. One of the games gave out the Hey Kid's! tract about the Ten Commandments to everyone who participated - a few hundred given out!

FFM had our ‘Good Person’ booth set up and we were inundated with kids and parents who wanted tracts and Bibles. The kids all wanted the Million Dollar Bills and 10 Commandment coins.

There were many great conversations, over 500 tracts were absorbed by the kids and 20+ Bibles as well. Some wanted the Chinese Gospel of John because they wanted to learn to read Chinese and would go ‘on-line’ to figure it out.

One 13 yr old girl had a nice cross necklace. I asked what that meant to her and the reply was “I liked it and my dad bought it for me”. Again, I asked the meaning of the cross and she really did not know. I took her through 3 of the 10 commandments and she knew she was guilty. When I talked about her guilt and God sending her to Hell when she dies she was shocked. I then explained the Good News and the Cross. She said she would think about it.

A couple of points I used with the kids that seemed to get their attention:
At the end of the conversations, I said, “When you go to bed tonight, please think about this conversation, tell God you are a sinner since you did admit to lying and stealing and not honoring your parents all the time, tell Him you are sorry and want to change (repent) and you want to accept the payment that Jesus made for you on the Cross.”
I pray these kids all listened and spoke to God on Saturday night!!

Most of these kids are victims of the modern, watered down Gospel message. Those who said they were going to Heaven, said it was because they accepted Jesus into their heart. SAD! Most did not know, even in the basic concept, that Jesus paid the price for their sins.

What was interesting, since many attending were church goers, is that when the parents would come over to the table with their kids and I started giving them the 10 commandments, the parents would tell them to listen up! The parents also heard the True Gospel. I figured once I said they were headed to Hell without repentance and faith, the parents would take them away as usually happens in more secular environments.

I know they are young but once they were told that Jesus was the only perfect and sinless person and only He could make the payment for them, they did understand. Why isn’t the church telling them this???

One boy about 10, said that because he had broken some of the Commandments, God would have to send him to H – E – Double hockey sticks…. At least he understood the reality of his sins.

All in all a very great night telling all of these people of the wonderful news of the Gospel.

From Israel...with love

2010-04-13T10:47:00.007-04:00

Debbie and I can't believe we have been in Israel two weeks. We have been
fortunate to be able work with Stephen and Pat Apple at Calvary Chapel Tel
Aviv in serving the poor and homeless here in Tel Aviv.

There are many volunteers from all over who come alongside the needy here
and show them Christian compassion; CCTV has been doing that for the past 7
years. There are many languages spoken on the street and in the church and
that hinders communication, but somehow God works through the differences to accomplish His will. It is awesome to worship together and listen to His Word be spoken in English and Hebrew; how Jesus perfectly fulfills the OT
prophecies given to the Jewish people.

This first picture is of a couple on the worship team at CCTV, believe it or not, another 'Dave and Debbie'. You
can see God working in many ways here; a local messianic youth group does
hip hop and rap on the boardwalk on Saturday nights, attracting an
interested crowd, right outside our hotel. (we're on the left)

We were able to travel to Jerusalem on Easter afternoon and to northern
Israel. Israel has been at war ever since its birth; the second picture
shows one Israeli gunboat replacing another on constant patrol at the
Israel-Lebanese to prevent terrorist attack.

This last picture is of folks
being baptized in the Jordan River, just south of the Sea of Galilee.

This is an amazing land and people. We are blessed and privileged to be
here and want to deeply thank you for your prayers and support.

God is good, all the time!

Dave and Debbie
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Israel Report

2010-04-12T21:53:00.001-04:00

Our friends Dave and Debbie report from Israel:

If you look closely, you can see the million dollar bill in front of the store owner in the Arab quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. Not sure who gave it to him.

The shopkeeper wasn't happy when we didn't buy anything...oh well...we were watching a local messianic youth group to 'Christian rap' on the beach when a couple of Kabbalah evangelist-types invited us to learn more about their 'enlightenment'....

they got a dose of the law and grace, and off they went...challenged and hopefully wiser.

Obviously!

2010-04-10T12:36:00.008-04:00

Allyson and I decided to stop at a local diner this morning for a break. As we sat and talked I noticed a man at a nearby table. He looked like a biker. His head was shaved and he had a long beard. With him sat a huge man in a leather sleeveless vest from a local biker gang. I was a bit embarrassed because when I looked at him he looked at me. I would have sworn I knew him from somewhere.

We continued to talk and I continued to try and figure out where I knew him from. I thought perhaps I had talked to him on the street and I was trying to remember the encounter but it just would not come to me. We finished up and walked out to the parking lot. I was telling Allyson about a period of time a few weeks ago when I had been reviewing over and over with God about how horrible people were getting and how it was getting to me. One night I was telling God over and over about how awful it was and I finally decided to just get out of bed and pray about it. As I went into the other room I thought 'Psalm 14.' I had thought to myself, 'Oh, stop.' Allyson and I were laughing about that. I told her when I got down to pray I thought 'Psalm 14' again. I told her I thought 'OK, maybe I'd better read it before I pray, just in case.' Allyson laughed out loud at this and said, "Yeah, just on the off chance He might be trying to tell you something!" It sounded pretty ridiculous now that she said it that way. Well...this is what I read:

Psalms 14-The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good.The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy there is none that does good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread,and call not upon the LORD.There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

I felt so foolish after reading that! Here I was griping to GOD about how rotten humanity is becoming and here He was telling me He already knew it ALL. I mean I don't even have to see ALL of it!!! How obvious was that?

When we finished I walked to my truck and then my mind split in half! Part of it was trying to figure out what exit to leave from and part of it was trying to figure out that guy.

I quickly decided I needed to go out the north exit since I could avoid traffic and get over the causeway faster. As soon as I turned the vehicle in the direction of that exit I knew I was going to see that man again. When I drove past the front of the diner he walked out from behind a concrete wall and put his hand up as if he were calling a cab. He seemed a bit embarrassed when he raised his arm, almost like, 'Why did I do that?" I pulled up to him and rolled down the window. It was very smooth and natural and not weird at all. I told him that I thought I knew him but could not remember where from.

He said, "No, I don't know you."

"Really? Because I really think I know you from somewhere." Now I tried to be conscious that this could go wrong but it wasn't that way.

"Where do you work?" he said.

"No, it's not there. I am a street evangelist. My name is Jennifer."

"I'm Jeff."

Since I was in the middle of the driveway I knew the conversation wouldn't be a long one so I wanted to be sure to give him a gospel tract. I handed him a Good Person booklet and a Million Dollar Bill.

"I have one of these."

"Did I give it to you?" I said.

"No, I would have remembered you." he said.

"OK, well Jeff do you know where you'll go when you die?" I asked.

"I'm going to Heaven, I've accepted Jesus into my heart." Jeff said.

"Jeff, I mean no disrespect but I want to ask you something...do you really think that the Creator of the Universe really needs your acceptance?"

"Well, I think whatever works for you, works for you and it might be different for someone else."

"Jeff, Jesus said, 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life-no man comes to the Father but by Me.' There is no other way."

Of course at this point there was another car behind me that needed to get through so I had to move. Jeff started to back away knowing I was going to be moving.

"Jeff , will you promise to read that?" I asked him in reference to the Good Person tract.

"I promise, I will."

We shook hands and I told him I'd see him around.

This encounter was meant to be-right in front of me-obviously!

Aguas Vivientes!

2010-04-09T07:57:00.009-04:00

I could not remember my password when I was on the net last night trying to pay a bill. Arrrgggh! Finally I broke down and called Jose' in Customer Service. He was a very nice young man with a heavy Spanish accent. He was very helpful and solved my problem.

After we were finished with the password issue Jose' asked me if I had any other questions. I just love that. Of course I told him I did.

"Jose' I have a question for you that is off the usual subject, but please take this seriously. I want you to really think about this, OK?"

"OK."

"How do I get to Heaven?"

He was quiet a moment and then said, "You have to do the right thing, you have to obey laws and be nice to other people."

"Do you do those things?" I asked him.

"Yes ma'am, I go to church and confession and take communion, and I'm nice to other people. I try to do the right thing."

"You are a good man?"

"Yes ma'am. I try to be." he said.

"Jose' I want to test your theory, OK? But I want to make sure that before you answer these questions you really think about them and you are honest before God-OK?"

"Yes ma'am."

I knew that this call was being taped and I also wanted to be respectful that Jose' was at work. I quickly went through 3 of the 10 Commandments and we discovered that Jose' had lied, stolen and blasphemed God's name.

He quickly justified his actions. "But I haven't committed anything really big."

"So you think maybe God will weigh everything and decide that you did more good than bad?" I asked.

"Yes ma'am." Even I would vouch that he was very polite.

After talking a bit more Jose' was struck by the fact that our sins and acts of disobedience are something that we cannot erase. They will stand forever, unless erased and forgiven by The Only One Who Can Forgive.

Jose' also learned the reason that Jesus really came-to make a payment for us that we CANNOT. We simply don't have it! We talked about repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone.

"You can't hang on to your good works, Jose'. You must let them go and hang on to Jesus. He's the only way!" I quoted John 14:6 to him. "I hope you will really do some thinking about this. I don't want you to go to Hell, Jose'."

"I don't want to go to Hell either!"

"The only way for you to avoid it now is to talk to God. Beg Him for forgiveness and put your trust only in Jesus! How do you say Living Water in Spanish?" I never can remember that!!! (Sorry Spanish-speaking friends!)

"Aguas vivientes."

"That's it! Go to that website, Jose'."

"Wait a minute...I want to write this down!" I could hear him scrambling at his desk.

After getting off of the phone, I prayed for Jose' that he would seek God and not stop until he found Him.

I am so very thankful that we have resources for the Spanish-speakers out there!!

Window Tinting and Quarks

2010-03-30T13:49:00.017-04:00

The conversation this morning happened on me so fast that I almost don't remember how! I went in to get the driver's window tinted on my truck. It's been so cold here that it peeled off.

When I walked in to talk to the guy I noticed that he had a very nice 1965 Mustang fastback in the garage. It was his and he told me all about it. It was Caprice blue and he had re-done everything on the car. It was beautiful. He told me his name was Jeff.

Jeff measured my window for the film and as he did he told me that he used to restore Mustangs for a man. His job was to bring them all up to factory specifics. He said he loved doing it and it taught him a lot.

"I loved working on it and it kept my mind on it instead of other things." He laughed when he said this. "You know, it was a distraction. Something to keep my mind busy. That's what it's about you know, just keeping your mind busy while you're here. We're not here for long!"

'Wow,is this really being dropped in my lap like this?' I thought. "That's right, here one minute and gone the next!" I was meeting Allyson at the nursing home when I was finished here and I had prayed earlier that God would bring someone into our paths to talk to. Guess He was already starting!!

"The big question is what next Jeff?"

"Yeah, you got that right! I'll tell you what I think..." Jeff proceeded to tell me that he believed that God created the world with a big bang about 17 billion years ago and man has evolved ever since. He told me that he liked the science of it. He told me he 'liked religion' because we needed to keep that balance of good and bad in us. It made the world go 'round. He told me that he thinks about this a lot.

When I asked if he believed in life after death he told me that he doesn't really like the idea of Hell. He said that he believed that our spirits came back in our kids.

"So, if I have this right you believe that you are a compilation of your ancestors?"

"That's exactly it!" He nodded then went on to tell me that we all had good and bad in us and then when we die we might get to float around 'god'. He proceeded to use familiar words like forgiveness and Heaven. "I don't believe the Bible. I believe in science."

I told him that my Dad and I had just had a conversation yesterday about quarks. We were discussing the possibility of pure sound being able to break quarks down. "The Bible says that God spoke the world into existence." He didn't know this.

I let him finish his thoughts and when he seemed to pause I asked him when he would be good enough to die. He seemed puzzled by the question. "Well, you mentioned a balance between good and evil in us. When are you good enough to die?"

"Ahhhh...well..."

"Jeff are you a good person?" I asked.

"Yeah. I try do do what's right." he said.

"I want to ask you some questions."

"Go ahead, I'll be honest!" he said. My phone was ringing and I saw that it was Allyson. She probably wondered where I was, so I hit the answer button. My plan was to let her hear what was going on so she would know I was going to be late. I was sitting over in a chair away from the truck and Jeff was standing at the truck with the driver's door open. Suddenly a voice said, 'Your call cannot be completed.'

"Whoa!! Was that the voice of God??" Jeff laughed. He seemed a bit shocked by this.

"No just Bluetooth." oops. I took the phone off Bluetooth and dialed her number then held the phone down. She told me later that she heard us and had prayed for us. By the way, it's a good idea to do this and have someone praying for you while you are talking to someone.

After Jeff answered some questions and admitted that he had probably broken each Commandment I asked him how God would judge him..."Guilty or innocent?"

"I'm going straight to Hell!" he said this with a bit of levity but I didn't let him off the hook.

"Yes, you are." I let it soak in.

"Well, we all are!" he said, as if this were some sort of comfort.

"Do you know what God did for us, so we don't have to go there?" Jeff didn't answer, he looked mystified. "Any idea?" He had no idea!

I told him about Jesus dying for us. He told me he thought it would have been much 'smarter' of God to just have the whole cross come out of the ground with Jesus on it and for Jesus to say something like, "I'm dying for you now. OK go ahead and continue." and then for the cross to go back into position in the hole in the ground. hmmm.

"Do you really think that He could not have come off of that Cross in a flash?? Scripture says that Jesus could have called leagues of angels but he didn't. He willingly laid His life down for you. When he was dying he saw your face Jeff. He knew each and every sin you would commit and He paid for it anyway." We talked about repentance and faith in Jesus.

Jeff still had questions and didn't believe that Jesus was without sin. After talking with him a while longer, I gave him the courtroom illustration and asked him if he could leave after his apology to the court. He got it. I talked again about repentance.

"Jeff, do you think this is important?"

"Yes, I do!" he said and stepped back.

"When do you think you'll take care of it? You never know when it's your time to go and if you wait, it may be too late for you!"

"I know... soon!" he said. By now some other people had come into his shop. I gave him a Good Person tract with the payment. He gave me a hug and told me he enjoyed our conversation.

Please pray for Jeff. It seems a bit strange to think that someone might not be familiar with the reason that Jesus came, but that's why we're here-after all!!

Learn more!!

2010-03-24T17:03:00.006-04:00

2 Timothy 2: 15 says...

Study to show thyself approved, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth!

Now's your chance to do something great for yourself AND support a wonderful ministry at the same time.

Security Pat-down at Washington Reagan

2010-03-19T06:00:00.001-04:00

On my return flight from Washington DC, I was randomly selected for a security pat-down. When the ‘small’ TSA gentleman came into the area, I asked if I won something. He said the lottery. He did the pat-down and I told him he had won, too and here’s your Trillion dollars.

He then just walked out of the little glass room waving his trillion dollar tract toward all of his co-workers at TSA. I called him back and said here – give these to your friends and handed him about 20. They started to read them and my friend said very loud – HEY – Read the message on the back! This is very cool he said.
I took a few photos of them and was off to catch my flight.
Pray for them all!

More Jets - More Opportunities to Spread the Gospel

2010-03-16T01:00:00.001-04:00

On my way to DC this week the opportunity to witness was provided right away. The plane (small 50 passenger regional jet) took off fast and leveled off quickly at a fairly low altitude and kind shook a little bit. The girl next to me got a very frightened look and stared over at me. I said this was normal on a small jet and she said she recently developed a fear of dying because some relatives had died recently!

Wow what an opportunity. I told her no one wants to die but we all will one day. I said she needs to make sure she knows where she will go when she dies. She believed in Heaven but not sure about Hell. Of course she said she was a good person and would go to heaven. We went through a few of the Ten Commandments and she admitted she was a sinner. It was then I found out she was a teacher at a Christian school. I gave her the Gospel message and re-confirmed with her that she understood what Jesus really did on the Cross. I am not sure she really understood the concept of repentance and faith.

She also said she used to attend a Presbyterian church and changed recently because the message was non-committal. If she thinks that church is a problem, look at this summary of what I understood her beliefs to be:

I don't think God will send people to Hell if they are good.

God knows whether a person should go to Heaven.

A person who never heard of the Bible could go to Heaven.

The tracts I used were very scary as they talked about Hell – one should say all the good things about Jesus, not anything about Hell.

God would not judge

“Believers” in Jesus are not the only ones who will go to Heaven.

I left some tracts with her and pray she reads them. More importantly I pray she reads the Bible.

Set 'em up Joe.

2010-03-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

The nursing home doesn't really seem like a place to meet a guy with this name, but we did. There he was sitting by himself in the courtyard. He wasn't interested in speaking to us at first. He was just trying to take in some sun. It's been pretty chilly here in Florida lately.

Joe told me he wasn't a church-going man, never had been. He told me he was an engineer. We talked about the way that engineers plan things out. They like to know what's coming next. He realized that he didn't know what was coming and he was not prepared, at all.

After answering a few questions, Joe got serious and listened to what the Bible had to say about eternity. While he listened he had a surprised and somewhat shocked look on his face. He learned that although he was indeed destined for Hell, God had made a way of escape. Just as we started to talk about it, Physical Therapy came to get him. I really do hate that!

Pray for Joe and his wife Greta, they are both here.

Go ye into all the world….

2010-03-09T11:47:00.000-05:00

It’s a beautiful Saturday in Nice, France. On the plane I had listened to a message from John MacArthur about going into all the world with the Gospel. He talked about a ‘new’ version of faith that teaches it is not necessary and how completely wrong and against scripture this teaching is. Without a preacher who will they hear (Romans 10:14)? The message was inspiring.

I ate lunch at an outdoor café and watched all the people go by. Then it hit me – what about the 400+ tracts I brought on this trip?? Why am I here?

I walked the 2 km back to the hotel, got the tracts and went back out. This time I walked down the quay that was along the Mediterranean Sea since there were dozens of people out walking, skating and riding there. I tried handing out the Million Euro notes and Obama Trillions and only 1 person out of 100 took one. That was enough to discourage me and I stopped and prayed. As usual God gave me the obvious answer – go back to the open air mall where I had lunch.

There was a girl handing out discount coupons to a café at a busy pedestrian intersection. So I stationed myself on the other side of the road. It was interesting that those who took her coupon also took a tract and those who refused her coupon refused the tract as well.

In about 1 hour I had given out the 400+ tracts. Please pray for the souls who received God’s Word!! If you can, notice the boy in the black T shirt with the pentagram.

Another business trip brings witnessing opportunities.

2010-03-08T13:21:00.000-05:00

On the flight to Atlanta I was able to talk a little to man next me but he turned away when I asked if he believed in Heaven. Guess he had more important things on his mind......

On the long flight to Dubai I was next to a Crash-Rescue Fireman from Jacksonville who was on his way to Mosul, Iraq to finish a contract job at the Mosul airbase. A lot of civilians are hired to fill non military jobs. When I found an opportunity (he was wearing headphones the whole time) to talk to him, I asked if he saw many deaths then asked where he thought he would go if he died. Though he was not comfortable, we talked a bit more and then he put his headphones back on. I gave him "Why Christianity" and a few hours later we landed. 14 hours from Atlanta to Dubai and that was all I could do-disappointing but maybe enough to reach this twenty something young man.

In Dubai I left some Trillion Dollar Obama tracts around as well as an Arabic tract. At dinner one night with some business associates, two of whom are also brothers in Christ, one led into a conversation about how Jesus Christ loved people and blessed them by many things including turning water to wine at a wedding. The non-Christian next to him said he had ‘grown-up’ Baptist and you could not have any alcohol so he was confused about this idea. I suggested he might have been in a legalistic environment or that maybe it was just his parents protecting him. But before the conversation could go on, the others at the table changed topics quickly. I gave them all some Trillion Dollar tracts. The 2 brothers are literally twin brothers as well as Believers and are Maronite Lebanese Christians.

Why do Muslims need a sign pointing to Mecca?? Even the airplane's map showing where you are has a diagram of the plane and an arrow pointing to Mecca.
Jeremiah 23:24 says God declares, "Do I not fill heaven and earth?". This is in hotel rooms and other locations in Dubai. Pray they find the One True God!

I’m on my way to France so more to come…..

The Room

2010-03-03T08:46:00.000-05:00

Got this in an email from a friend-very interesting...

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings.

As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at."

Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived.

Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me.

One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards.

But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep; sobs so deep they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes.

Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive.

The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Junk Mail-YAY!

2010-02-24T07:10:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you , but sometimes I can't believe all of the junk we get in the mail! I know I wouldn't make a tank with it, but I can do something useful.

When I go through the mail to get rid of it, I keep the return envelopes. Some of the envelopes already have postage paid, but if not I make sure to include a stamp. Million Dollar Bills are one of the tracts I like to use. I know how happy people are to get these so I know they will pass them around.

So, when you feel like your junk mail is giving you a headache, let God use it for good!!

The Pit Maneuver

2010-02-22T07:03:00.005-05:00

Friday night we got to the site early and set up the booth, pretty quickly. All of the vendors at this festival were doing the same. I noticed the Police were positioning their officers around the affair, as well.

People began to arrive to wander around. We all handed out tracts and quickly got into some conversations. As things slowed down, I noticed an officer standing at the entrance to the park.

"Come on Josh, let's go talk to him!" I said. I like talking to Police Officers. I feel that they are doing a wonderful job and I always want them to know they are appreciated.

I greeted the officer, checking out the chevrons on his sleeve. I told him I wasn't sure of his rank.

"You can call me Mike." he said.

"Hi Mike." I introduced myself and Joshua. We told him that we appreciated their presence. We had a bit of trouble a few weeks ago with someone and it was comforting to know they were here.

"Did you get one of these, Mike?"

"What is it?" he asked.

"It's a gospel tract."

"Oh, OK."

"I'm trying to do a pit maneuver on you, Mike," I told him. Our good friend Tony Miano, first gave me the idea to use that phrase. Please try this at home!

"A what??" he laughed.

"You know, a pit maneuver. I'm trying to get you to stop moving forward long enough to read this," I said with a smile.

Mike told me he was a Christian and we talked a little bit about that. We had a great conversation about sharing our faith and he wanted to know more. I ran back to the booth to look for a copy of Tony's book Take Up the Shield but found I had given them all away. I brought him a copy of Mark Cahill's book, One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven. It's a great idea to have some of these resources on hand for the occasion when you have a great conversation and you know someone is very interested in knowing more.

A big THANK YOU to all of the officers who watch over us daily!! Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Is there not a causeway?

2010-02-18T14:35:00.007-05:00

Allyson and I thought we were going to do some exercise and walk the causeway this morning. This bridge looks daunting. We put our game faces on and started heading west. As we walked we observed that the weather was grand, even if it was a bit cold for our locale. "At least we don't have snow on the ground!" we laughed.

As we passed people we gave out tracts, making use of our time. At the other end we decided to walk down by the water. It was a beautiful day, sun shining off of the waves. We noticed that birds of every sort were hanging out underneath the bridge. We made up stories about them-ok I did that not Allyson. Anyway, we decided to go back up and do the return stretch.

We walked and stopped. As we did this we noticed for the first time the flex in the bridge. "OK, this is creepy. Let's get to the other side." Now of course, the causeway is built to flex, but standing there feeling it with nothing under you but water, is kind of scary.

I noticed something causing waves below us. "Look!" I yelled. We stopped to watch a mother dolphin and her new baby swimming. "That is so cool!!" We talked about how Heaven might look with the crystal sea being clear. We laughed about how little we really understood.

At the bottom of the ramp we started to pass a man with a small brown dog. He said his name was Ross and he introduced the dog as Brownie. He was originally from the Philippines but has been here 40 years. He is an engineer and now retired. We talked to him about death and he told us his brother had recently died. He told us he was a Catholic man and we asked him if he had kept the 10 Commandments. He seemed concerned that we were not Catholics. At first he was reluctant to speak with us but we told him that we did not follow a man-we follow Jesus. We also clarified that we were not Jehovah's Witnesses. After we cleared that up he spoke more freely. After some discussion, Ross was waved away by his wife, who was waiting for him.

As we walked toward his van, he told us that the only time he had questioned God was when his brother died. He said he spent much time asking God, 'why?'.

We gave him a Good Person tract and asked him to read it later. He told us he would and waved goodbye.

Just go.

2010-02-13T07:04:00.000-05:00

Since the nurses are very familiar with the patients, I usually ask them if they have anyone I should see first. On this particular morning I was told the man I should really see wasn't here but instead, he was in the hospital.

I decided to make the trip on Tuesday. I was really dragging my feet today. I really needed to snap out of it! I prayed on the way that the Lord would take care of all the details. I knew that if I would just plant the seed, salvation would be up to Him. When I got up to the room I was concerned because I could see that there were no sheets on the bed. As I peeked in the room I saw an elderly lady sitting in a chair.

"Hi." I introduced myself and told her I was from the nursing home.

"I'm Geri, Charlie's wife. Charlie is down in dialysis right now. You are welcome to wait with me." She gave me a weak smile. Geri looked very worried and tired.

We talked for a while about her children and grandchildren. We talked about Charlie, whom I had yet to meet. Soon enough the subject of death was discussed. I asked what she thought about the afterlife. She told me about her father, who was trained for the priesthood in Rome.

"He came back and told my grandmother that he just could not do it. He was a wonderful man", she reminisced. "He instilled in me a very strong belief in Purgatory."

Oh, great, I thought. Ok Lord, You have to do the work. I am going to do what I came to do. Seeing that Geri was a Roman Catholic I knew that she would be familiar with the 10 Commandments, so I took her through a few of them. She admitted to lying, stealing and blasphemy. Then she told me that God would not send her to Hell because nothing she did was 'that bad'. We went through a couple more Commandments and then finally she told me she would end up in Purgatory.

"You know, good works!" she smiled.

"You know Geri, that is really a comforting thought, but the trouble is there is no Purgatory mentioned in scripture. And if it were true then why did Jesus have to die?" When I said this her jaw dropped slightly. She just stared at me as though this were the first she was hearing of something that really shocked her.

"If God is truly Righteous and Just, as scripture says He is, He will be bound by His Holiness to send you to Hell for eternity-no chance of escape for you! God sent Jesus to die for us because we don't have the payment He is looking for. You see, Jesus died so that He could pay our penalty. We deserve to go to Hell-we did the crimes. What God expects of us is that we humble ourselves and admit that we've done wrong. We don't deserve Heaven but He made a way for us to spend eternity there. We must repent, or turn away from our sin, admitting we are wrong. Then we must follow Jesus, putting all of our trust in Him. 'For by grace are you saved, through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast.' There will not be one person boasting in Heaven that he got there on his own. Does this make sense to you?" I asked her.

"Yes, this really makes sense" she said.

We talked some more, Charlie still did not return and I had to get going so I told her I would come back to see Charlie. I determined that family came in the afternoon so I would come the next morning.

At 9am the next day I walked out of the elevator to Charlie's room. As I got there I could see that the name had been taken down off of the wall. I stood there for a moment before turning to the nurse's station.

"Is Charlie gone?" I asked.

The nurse hesitated. I told her I was from the nursing home. "Did he pass?" I asked.

"He passed away last night. His wife and daughter were with him." she said. I hoped that Geri had shared what we had talked about.

As the elevator slid down to the ground floor I prayed for the family. I thought I was going to see a man named Charlie. Instead I talked to his wife. The Lord is in charge of who I see, I am just to go.

Blindfolded.

2010-02-05T07:10:00.001-05:00

I prayed before getting on the plane that I would be able to talk with whomever I sat with. After all it was going to be a long ride-11 or so hours. Since Dennis was already in Tel-Aviv I was traveling alone.

The nice couple I sat with are Israeli, living in Texas. It 'just so happens' that they live in the same town my sister does. Small world. We had a nice, uneventful flight.

A couple of hours before we landed I noticed that they were awake so I started a conversation. Their names are Sara and Ya'akov and they told me that they always come back once a year to Israel. They have a home there. They were very anxious to see their grandchildren. They asked me what we were going to be doing while in Israel and I told them that I really wanted to go to Petra. They both said at once, "Don't go!" They told me that they also had a trip to the Sinai desert planned but their son, who is a commander in the IDF warned them not to go. "It isn't safe, people are being kidnapped."

We went on to talk about politics and of course they asked me what I thought of our new President. I don't like talking about politics because you are always going to make someone mad and I find that two very intense topics do not mix well. So I said something non-commital and went on to ask them if they went to synagogue in Dallas. They told me that they are not 'religious Jews'. I asked what they thought about the afterlife.

Ya'akov said he thought there was some sort of afterlife but he wasn't sure what it would be like. He also said he thought Hell was right here. Sara believed in Heaven but not Hell. I asked them if people had to be good to get to Heaven. Ya'akov answered affirmatively, even though he previously said he wasn't sure if there was such a place. Sara said she thought one had to be good, as well.

When asked if they thought they were good people, they told me they tried to be. I asked if we could look at the Law of Moses. They nodded. I took them through some of the Commandments and asked if they had ever failed to keep them. They were both honest and admitted failure. I asked them to tell me a bit about the Exodus. Sara told me that was when the Israelites came out of Egypt, led my Moses. I asked what they did on the last night with the lamb. She told me that the lamb was roasted and eaten. I asked her why the blood was put on the doorposts. She told me that when the Angel of Death saw it he would pass over the house. If it wasn't there the firstborn would be killed. I told them that Jesus was called the Lamb of God and He was slain for the sins of the world. I told them that it was foretold that He would come as a Lamb over 700 years before He ever arrived. I asked them if they had ever read Isaiah. They had not read it, but were still listening.

" Jesus died to pay for our sins once and for all time. He was slaughtered like the animals that were killed in times past." Sara mentioned that once a year Yom Kippur was celebrated and that atonement was made. "But scripture states that 'without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin' so how does that work?" I asked her. She was thoughtful.

I told them that typically, Jewish people were awaiting their Messiah, but that they had missed Him. He had already come as a Lamb and they failed to recognize Him. The next time He came it would be as a Lion. He would not come with mercy but to slaughter and destroy. Ya'akov had left his seat but Sara was very concerned. She asked, "What will happen to us?" I told her that would depend upon whether or not she had surrendered and recognized Him as Ha'Maschiach. "A time is coming soon that will make the Holocaust look like a picnic." I said. She became very concerned.

"God has made provision for us, even thought He knows we aren't perfect. He made a way for us to be forgiven and to be able to go to Heaven. It is only though the Lamb slain for the sins of many that we are able to be reconciled to God. The very fact that there is a state of Israel is a testament to the hand of God. He foretold that Israel would become a nation in a day. He also had much to say about the Messiah and you must get to know Him."

As we landed I gave them a little Good Person booklet to read. They both promised that they would read it.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Unremarkable.

2010-02-03T07:00:00.003-05:00

The lopsided smile gave her away-she had had a stroke. It had affected her on the same side my grandmother's stroke had. She said her name was Jean. She was small and looked scared. Nothing special about her. She was unremarkable to the human eye.

"I don't know what time they will come to get me today." she said.

"Are you waiting for therapy?" I asked her, knowing the schedule was different today.

She nodded. "Well, since it's Saturday it might be different."

She nodded her head and told me she forgot what day it was. Easy to do in here. Every day was the same. Same food, same people. Florescent lights instead of the sun.

We talked about the horrible weather conditions 'up north'. She shook her head from side to side. Jean was nearly deaf and told me so as I watched her continually try to adjust her hearing aid. This always makes it more difficult. But nothing is impossible with God. One time I was talking to an old Irish man who was nearly deaf and even though I was sitting next to him, almost screaming in his ear, he could not make out what I was saying. Then the Lord showed me his calendar, which was hanging on his board. I took it down and rolled it up, making a sort of bullhorn. After that, he heard me just fine.

After a few minutes I got down to the business of eternity. Jean thought she was ok, as far as being a good person goes. She faced off with the 10 Commandments and found out that she had failed to be perfect. This caused her to politely justify herself. We went back over a couple of the Commandments and she stopped. I asked her where God would have to send her she hesitate and said, "Well, I think that God would have to...Hell." Her shoulders slumped when she admitted this.

I watched her a moment and then asked her if she knew what God had done for her so she would not have to spend eternity in Hell. She didn't understand what I said, so I began to write it out on paper. As I wrote the name Jesus my pen stopped-just stopped writing. For some reason I had another pen in my book so I just continued on. I saw behind her a picture of a dapper man in a WWII uniform. When I explained why Jesus came I told her that, just like someone who went to war, He did it for all of us. At this her eyes teared up and she nodded her head. When I was finished Jean told me she was tired.

"Hard to think." she muttered.

"I know I've given you some heavy things to think about. But I know you realize this is very important, too. The only one who can make this decision is you, Jean. You don't need me."

She nodded and told me thank you for coming in to talk with her. I left with a heavy heart. Allyson was waiting for me in the hallway and we stopped to pray for her and another lady that Allyson had just finished with. After speaking to another lady, we parted ways around 11am.

At around 4pm, my cell phone signaled to me that I had received a message. it came from Tucker, another friend who works at the nursing home. "I am just calling to let you know that the work of the Lord goes on! Jean ________ has just prayed to received the Lord Jesus Christ and I wanted to let you know!"

Unremarkable? Obviously not to God!

1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.