Iowa State Fair Outreach 2021 - 8.21.21 That Doesn't Look Normal!

 So the rest of the time at the Iowa State Fair Answers In Genesis (AiG) booth went well. People were hearing the Gospel, and having great conversation and getting their questions answered. I took a break from the AiG booth to help the Gideon's International with theirs. Tuesday and Wednesday I decided to take some time away from the fair to do a different kind of fishing. I caught two 13in bass and my friend caught one 20 in / 2lb bass. It was a great time to get away and regroup without burning out. 

Thursday and Friday I had some good conversation but not as well as the beginning of the week. I ran into many teens and college age students from a very large Lutheran Church in the area that rhymes with DOPE, that couldn't tell me what the gospel was, or that Jesus saves people from their sin. Not only that, but once, I  asked a kid who was wearing a cross around his neck how a person gets to heaven, he didn't know. I kept looking down at his necklace and asked, "So, what does this cross around your neck mean? What's the symbol of it." He said he wore it for good luck. 

Saturday rolled around and I was really motivated to make this second weekend the best this year. I couldn't get my normal parking but had to park three blocks further. The place was packed. I was excited that this place was going to be full to capacity. I got into the fair, and it was filled to the max with people. I made my way to the booth and met up with my wife and friends from church. I gave them tattoos and showed them around the booth. They left and about twenty minutes later, the unexpected happened. 

I was speaking with one of our team members and my knee kept getting caught on the opening of my shorts. I kept adjusting and was really getting annoying. When I pulled up my shorts slightly, the team member I was speaking with pointed down at my knee and said, "That doesn't look right." I looked down and my right knee was the size of a baseball, and felt like a water balloon. I sat down right away trying not to panic; my knee felt very weird, and I knew I was done working. With all the standing in the booth witnessing and talking with people, my body broke down and said, no more. 

I never thought in a million years I would incur injuries sharing my faith; maybe getting punched or kicked, but not because my body is falling apart. But I guess it's that time I need to take care of myself as I get older. 

But this should be a lesson for all of us. Many people put off God and doing His will until later on in life. They'll say they have plenty of time later or they're too busy now. It reminds me of Luke 12:16-21. 

Then He [Jesus] spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. "And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' "So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, [and] be merry." ' "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' "So [is] he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." [Luke 12:16-21 NKJV]

Like this rich man, later might not ever come. People need to serve God while they are able, not only mentally and physically, but while they are alive. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, and this should be a warning for all of us. I'm not saying that you need to give up your jobs or careers, but fit God and His will in there. Make it first in your life. When we put God first He gives us our needs and daily bread (Proverbs 2:8-9; Matthew 6:25-34). 

UPDATE: 8/23 the water dissipated in my knee and as of 9/13 I am able to walk on it without a brace or compression bandage. Praise God.