Unexpected Event.

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

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

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

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!

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.