Wonderful Day @ DMFM

The Lord really gave us a wonderful day today!

Mary and I headed down to the Des Moines Farmers Market and hit the street around 10:30 AM. We started on 4th and Court in front of Bail Bonds. As next week finds us celebrating our nations Independence Day, I started off on the soapbox reading Patrick Henry's address to the delegates of the Second Virginia Convention, on March 23, 1775, St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia - his famous "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech. I transitioned to John chapter 8 where Jesus spoke to His people (and to us) about bondage and enslavement to sin, and the freedom available only in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Boy was it hot! Oh, and I learned that once you're dripping with sweat, its next to impossible to put sunscreen on.

We moved down to 2^nd Ave and Court, and set up the box on the north-east corner. I spoke on “Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People”, and “The Problem of Evil”, thanks to some good framework borrowed from Mark Spence and the Living Waters Apologetics video clips ( http://www.LivingWaters.com/). We had a lot of encouragement: Kevin K., a co-worker from Lennox stopped by with a cold bottle of water and a smile; another lady came up just brimming with enthusiasm and encouragement, letting me know she prays for me - WOW! Another couple stopped with a handshake & some good words, and then we had a good group of young folks stop to listen. They came up close and let me know they were believers. So we talked briefly, and I asked them to reach out to the lost around them with the gospel, and gave them a little exhortation to put some urgency in it.

Kelsey, Coleen, and Mary at 2nd & Court
Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market
6/30/12

A little later on, these two young ladies from the group came back, Kelsey and Coleen, and expressed thanks that I wasn’t preaching open-air like some others they'd encountered, who they thought just kind of beat people up with the Bible and their words. We had a real good conversation, they stepped over to the bench where Mary was sitting and introduced themselves, and we had some good fellowship around the things of the Lord. They are working at a Bible camp down in Indianola, and came up to Des Moines for a little R & R. I really thank the Lord for the people He puts in our lives. It was refreshing to talk with these ladies. God bless them. As His word says,

"A word spoken in due season, how good it is." Proverbs 15:23

Click HERE for "The Problem of Evil."

AYR @ M'town Farmers Market

Our view of the Market from the corner of Main & Center Street

I had the pleasure of taking my AYR witnessing cross out to our little Farmers Market in front of the Courthouse in Marshalltown after work today. Fred, a brother from work joined me for a while, and we handed out tracts and had a couple of conversations. Pray for a young man named David: he has some religious background, but his testimony was a little confusing. Fred engaged him in conversation after giving him an "Are You Ready" tract. They came over to my side of the sidewalk, and I started at the beginning, using the law and the gospel, pointing David to repentance and faith in the finished perfect work of Another - the Lord Jesus Christ. David wanted a Bible, and I did not have one to give him.

Fred had to get going, and I stayed for a little longer, and had a conversation with a woman who confessed to be saved, but who gave me back the tract I'd handed her. I encouraged her to take it and give it to someone who she knew might need to read it, and she took it back. We talked about her unsaved relatives, about the challenge to witnessing to family members. I was able to speak to her about the short time we have, and the priveledge we have in this country to witness and evangelize - in other words, I exhorted her to love and good works, as Jesus commanded us. I headed back to the car, and found the Bible I usually have in my office sitting in the trunk. So, I stowed the AYR cross, took the Bible back to where David was sitting, and handed it to him. He said, "I hope it helps." Oh yes, it helps! It is God's quick and powerful word. May he read it, believe it, and obey it.

It was a good day.

May those who glanced our way be moved to think of their eternal soul, and those who took a tract actually read it and think about eternity. Thanks, Fred, for stopping by to help. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you choose to use us your children; the foolish, weak, and base things, and the things which are despised...the things that are not, according to 1 Corinthians 1:27,28. That you allow us to reach out to others with the word of life, and to give you praise and glory in these last days!

iPad posting

My desktop PC bit the dust, and our son Zander took his laptop to Bible Camp in North Carolina for 7 weeks. The Lord provided us with something to stay somewhat connected with the electronic universe, in that I won an iPad through an IndustryWeek promotion.

So, while I can do some things, like check email, post on FB, and type in an entry here, I can't do all the stuff I'm used too with my PC. Until I figure out all the apps I need to function at a higher level, the next few posts may appear "minimalist".

Don't let that keep you from joining us in outreach to the lost & encouraging/exhorting the saints. Call or email if you want to join us or have an outreach opportunity to advertise, and leave a comment if you will commit to praying for us.

Paul.

Des Moines Farmers Market: GO, STAND, SPEAK

The Lord continues to make a place for us to go, stand, and speak to our friends and neighbors of all the words of the new life we have in Jesus Christ down at the famous Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market in Des Moines, Iowa. No pictures to share, but you may listen to the uncut audio of the preaching from Saturday, June 9th, (around 10:30 AM), by clicking the link below:

Audio Here  (Note: speaking begins around the 1:40 mark on the audio file)

We were located near the corner of 4th and Court, on the north west side in front of Bail Bonds. I couldn't get as close to the corner as usual, due to the belly dancers doing there thing on the south side of this intersection.

Mary came down with me and passed out many, many gospel tracts. Tony met up with us and got up on the box as well. Had some good encouragement from believers in the crowd: one fellow bought me and Mary a can cold Pepsi - nice! But really, it is our privilege to exalt our Lord Jesus Christ in these last days, among a people who have turned their back on God, to call them to repentance and faith in the one and only Savior.

We post this stuff to encourage brothers and sisters to step out and boldly witness for Jesus Christ. If you would, we'd appreciate your prayers to the Father for our ministry work at the Farmers Market. Let us know if you are praying for us by leaving a comment on this site.

Tomorrow: Dam to Dam Race & Farmers Market

Please pray for outreach at the Dam To Dam Distance Classic race in Des Moines tomorrow morning, as well as our regular outreach to the people attending the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. There will be a ton of people, all eternal souls in need of a mighty Savior!

According to the web site Running Wall (www.runningwall.com), "Dam to Dam is Iowa’s Distance Classic and ranks as one of the best long distance races in the USA. Please join the largest 20 kilometer in the nation from Saylorville Dam to downtown Des Moines."



WHO Radio's website says, "Runners are taking over the metro Saturday with the 33rd annual Dam to Dam race. Eight-thousand runners are registered for the 20K distance, which covers a distance of a little over 12 miles. The race starts on the Saylorville Dam at 7:00 a.m. and ends in downtown Des Moines at 12th and Grand Avenue. There is also a 5K that begins at 9:15 a.m. at the corner of 10th and Locust. Des Moines police are closing several roads that are part of the course for the runners’ safety."


8000 runners for the 20K race alone... 

GLORY TO GOD!

We hope to have some witnessing crosses on the race route, and then move to Court Avenue for preaching, tracts, witnessing, etc. Mary and I will be going down, and will meet up with Tony, Jim, and Frank (among others) to lift up the name of Jesus. Please join us as we reach out with the living water of the gospel. Of you can't, thank you for remembering us in prayer. As always, it will be spiritual warfare, but we remember that the battle belongs to the LORD.