Off to Oslo

On my latest business trip which was to Denmark and Norway, God gave me a few opportunities just on the first part of the journey.

I tried to talk to the Hollander next to me.. While he was interesting and passionate about his job as a pastry chef in Dusseldorf, (apparently even though he lives in Netherlands he is an hour from Dusseldorf). He looked at the R U a Good Person booklet I had slipped into the airline magazine, but quickly put it back. I did give him a million Euro note which he took and said he would read.

Yes the flight attendant got a MDB as well.

In Atlanta I went to a restaurant and Tenisha was my server. Unlike my usual manner I gave a MDB right away. Usually I wait to get my food just in case they get mad.

She stopped and talked for a few minutes after I asked he where she will go after she died. She said her spirit would go somewhere but not sure where. I explained that God makes it clear she would spent eternity in heaven or hell. She asked if hell and heaven were real physical places to which I replied yes.

She asked me how I knew. I asked her if she read the Bible and she does- Proverbs and Psalms mostly. I asked her if she thought that either were real places and she admitted they were but wanted my opinion.

She went off to other tables and returned with my check. She said she really is interested in the relationship idea with God and not religion. I agreed, however before she can have that relationship she must be right with God- repentance and Faith was explained.

I left her with a "Why Christianity" book and a lot to think about.

More to follow on the rest of the trip....

The Law brings conviction to a Christian lesbian.

Looking up the street I saw 2 teenaged girls and a teen guy near the trash can. I remembered that a few minutes earlier they had passed Dayna and I as we were speaking to someone.

"Let's go up and see if they'll talk to us!" I said. We hurried to catch up to them.

"Hey, how are you guys? Did you get one of these?" We asked. They took the tracts and looked a bit bored. "Where are you going when you die?"

They started reading as the guy, Austin started made faces and poked fun at the subject.

I talked to the girls and they were pretty open. One of the girls claimed to be a Christian but didn't know how to get to Heaven. Austin continued to be obnoxious. Then he took a phone call. As he did another girl joined the group.

"Austin this is way more important than that call." I told him.

"No, it's not." he said. Dayna confirmed that this would be the most important thing he ever heard.

The girls and I continued to talk but before we could present the good news, Austin grabbed them and began dragging them away.

"Hey! I'm not finished yet." I yelled.

A bit frustrated, Dayna and I stopped and prayed for them. We walked back toward the booth as it was getting darker.

About an hour later they stood in front of me. The one who claimed to be a Christian was missing but in her place was the girl who had just walked up before they were swept away. I noticed that the two girls were holding hands. Austin was physically pushing her at me. I looked at him and asked, "What do you need? I thought you didn't want to talk to us?"

Austin was quiet but looked at her as she said, "I want to know how to get to Heaven." You know, I heard a pastor talk one time about how evangelists used to just preach the Law for weeks without giving the Good News of Christ. He said that after several weeks people would come unbidden down the aisles begging to be saved. The Holy Spirit had been convicting this girl.

She introduced herself as Ricki and we began to talk. As we went through the Law Ricki was honest and then saw herself as guilty before God. "But I'm saved." she said very quietly.

I gave her the Good News of Jesus's payment for her. I told her that God was looking for her to repent-leave her sin behind-and put all of her trust in Jesus Christ.

She was very quiet and said nothing. Austin said, "Tell her."

"Tell me what?" I said. I refused to take the bait.

Austin said, "Will she go to Hell because she's a lesbian?"

"Ricki you don't go to Hell because you are a lesbian-you go to Hell for sinning against God and refusing to bow your knee to Him."

"But I'm saved." she said again.

"Look, are you willing to repent-or turn away from your sin Ricki?" I asked.

"No." Ricki said.

"Would you trade your soul for this?" I clarified.

"Yes, I would." she said.

"You are not saved Ricki. I am not trying to be harsh, but I don't want you to go through your life believing a lie! Just because you said a little prayer doesn't mean you got your 'get out of Hell free' card! If you continue to go the way you are going you will one day wake up in Hell!"

The girl she was holding hands with continued to text with one hand as she had during the conversation. Austin and Ricki just stood still.

I gave them a Good Person tract. "Ricki, you are not ready for this. I hope and pray one day you will be, before your soul is lost for good. Have a good evening." I walked away, leaving them standing in the street.

Joe the college student and kitchen knife salesman

A neighbor asked if we would spend about 30 minutes with a college student she knows. Seems like he is selling knives and kitchen stuff to get points for a scholarship. The obvious answer is yes, then he can listen to what we have to say. Jen had an appointment and left me to handle this.

After hearing the pitch about the knives, lifetime replacement, etc., etc. it was my turn. I asked Joe what happens when you die. He said nothing and we just rot away. I asked if he believed in God to which he replied he was agnostic but did not believe the Big Bang idea and also that some ‘higher power’ created everything. At this time I let him know that when we die, we all will face God and let him know about Hebrews 9:27. He was surprised at this. Without going into all the details, Joe admitted he was a liar, a thief and an adulterer at heart. He even said he would be guilty of these things when standing in front of God. Also he felt that ‘if’ God were a righteous and just God he would be sentenced to eternity in Hell.

I gave him the scenario about a local courtroom and if he had committed some crime and sentenced to $10 million but could not pay but someone paid the fine on his behalf, how the judge could let him go since the debt had been paid. I asked if this could happen and what would he half to do. I explained that just because someone offered to pay his fine, that he must accept that payment, not just acknowledge it.
This started making sense. I explained how Jesus is God made in the form of a Man could take the world’s punishment and make the payment of his sin debt and the whole world’s debt BUT he must accept the payment. I explained to Joe that he must admit he is a sinner, repent and put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

We talked some more about religion and a relationship with God and Jesus.
I gave him some tracts, Why Christianity? and a Gospel of John. He thanked me for them, though I know he probably would rather have the sale of a knife set. He did say he would read the booklet and think about what we talked about.

And, brothers, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you have received, and in which you stand; by which you also are being kept safe, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures; 1Corinitians 15:1

Make every moment count.

On the way to the nursing home I stopped to get some flowers for a friend. I went in to the shop and noticed that it was completely remodeled. After asking the gal to help me with an arrangement I told her I really liked the new look. She told me that there was a new owner-just out of school.

"We are excited about the changes."

"I really like it. Much less cluttered." I said.

She began to arrange the flowers in a vase and I watched her. "You really are good at this." I told her.

"Thanks, I like doing this."

Suddenly I came out of my stupor! What was I thinking just standing here???

"The friend I am getting these for is very ill. She probably won't live long."

"Oh, I'm sorry." she said.

"Well, were all going to die one day, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"What do you think happens when we die?"

"Oh, I don't know, Heaven I guess." she speculated.

After asking her some questions Gaylen became very quiet. She finished the arrangement just after realizing why Jesus came for us.

"Have you ever heard that before?" I asked her.

"No, not presented like that."

I paid and handed her a Good Person booklet. "I hope you will take time to think about this Gaylen."

"I will definitely give this some thought."

Psalms 103:15-18 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Now hear this!!!

Time to participate!!!