Christmas Evangelism

It was around 24 degrees (F), a light flurry of snow blowing from the northwest behind me. The corner of Center and Anson Street was busy with traffic from the Hy-Vee grocery store to my left, and last-minute shoppers heading in all directions. In other words, it was a great time to get out with a witnessing cross and point people to the Lord Jesus Christ, on December 24, 2012!



I stopped by Wal-Mart to find a large bow to put on the cross, in part to draw attention of cars stopping at the intersection, but also to point out the truth of God's unspeakable gift to us in the Savior. Typical traffic-light evangelism, sans preaching, other than the message on the cross. I was out for about an hour, with quite a bit of positive response...even had a lady walk over to the corner and give me a cup of hot chocolate and a "God bless you." I was thankful.

God has blessed me...He continues to do so every day, and I have His promise of blessing and mercy and grace into eternity future! So, I can stand out on a cold December afternoon with intention and purpose to declare not only His blessing to me, but the hope for sinners like me, that they might turn their thoughts to their eternal soul, to see the gift of forgiveness and life we proclaim, and come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus...while there is time. Oh the amazing love of God!

Charles Wesley's "Amazing Love" (or "And Can It Be....")

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/c/acanitbe.htm

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?

 Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

 

 

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.

’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

 

 

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:

’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

 

 

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
 My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

 

 

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
 I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

 

 

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
 Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

His Unspeakable Gift

So, the calendar has turned quickly to the end of 2012, and we are well into the
holiday season. And while Mary & I don't make a big deal out of December 25th, we do take the opportunity to reach out with the love of God, and offer the gospel of His grace and mercy in the person of Jesus Christ. I'm again giving out the "God of Wonders" DVD to people I meet on the street, or to the salesman at the store, or the girl behind the counter at the Deli.

We hope you will think of creative ways to share your faith, and to hold forth the
light of the world, the Lord Jesus, in this our world which is groping in darkness.

Until He comes....

Freedom in Jesus Christ

Freedom!

Here's a sneak peek at a new witnessing cross I am making. Actually, I am recycling a cross I made a year ago. The wood was too heavy to use comfortably, so it just sat around. I took it back to David at Logs To Lumber, and he planed it down to half it's thickness. Now its very light, and will be out on the streets soon, the Lord willing.

Sin is bondage. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16) Yes, it may yield pleasure, but only for a "season", and then the consequences of reaping what we have sown...corruption, death, God's perfect justice, and eternal death separated from God's love in the lake of fire, forever. What a fool's trade!

There really is freedom only in the Lord Jesus Christ, who said: "If  the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free INDEED." (John 8:36)

1. I hope you, reader, know the freedom that comes through faith in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ. If not, look to Him today, trust in His shed blood on Calvary as payment for your sins against God. If you are free in Christ, please reach out to those around you with the precious gospel of the grace of God, until He comes....

Octemberfest 2012 - Marshalltown, Iowa

Octemberfest has notably been our anual outside year end event.  Paul and I went last year with his "Are You Ready" cross and had a blast.  We had so many good conversations and we were hoping to have another great night.  This time Tony Didlo of Saving Faith Outreach joined us. 

When we got there we started on the same corner as last year.  We knew it was going to be a good night.  Paul didn't even get his cross unfolded when a teenage girl ran up to Paul and wanted to talk to "the cross guy".  She was an uninformed Mormon and as he was answering her questions, a young man came up listening to the conversation.  I could tell that he was paying attention and was really bothered by the answers, so I decided to talk to him one-on-one.    His name is Rickey.  I asked him if what listened to made sense and he agreed.  I went over the 10 Commandments again with him and asked if he would be guilty.  He said, "yes."  I asked Rickey what God would do with him and he knew that he would go to hell.  When I asked him if he was concerned, he started to tear up and he said it did...greatly.  I shared the gospel with him and helping him understand that he broke the law and Jesus payed the fine.  After over a half-hour of conversation he asked, "I am so sorry for what I did, and how I hurt God and want His forgiveness.  When can I do that?"  Wow...what a moment.  So I told him that he can do that right now becuase he could die today.  So Rickey reached out his hand, and he prayed, confessed his sin and asked God for His forgiveness and recieved Christ Jesus as savior and Lord.  I then prayed for him that he would serve God the rest of his days, that he would have a godly wife and kids, and that he would grow in His grace and mercy.  Rickey picked up his head and said, "I wasn't expecting to do this when I came down here."  "Neither was I, but God knew and brought us together."  I gave him a bible that I have been carrying around for 9 years (it still looked brand new since I had it wrapped), gave him chapters to read, talked a little more and exchanged information. 

The rest of the evening was great.  We had many conversations and Tony was all fired up after Rickey receiving Christ.  We were all encouraged and ready to come back next year.  Since the writing of this I've been in contact with Rickey.  He's reading his bible and asks questions when he gets stumped.  Pray that he will find someone closer at his church to disciple him as he grows in Christ.  Thanks for reading. 

God is Evil, Man is Good???

The other day I was witnessing to a young man who thought he was smart and smug about his beliefs. When I asked him why he had a hard time believing in God, he said it was because of all the suffering in the world. He said if God was a loving God He would take care of the human race because any loving father would. When I asked him what part of the world bothered him the most he said Africa. It's full of disease, kids are starving, and the water is so poor that people barely drink. So the conversation finishes like this...

"That's interesting", I said. "Do you know what one of the major natural resources are in Africa?"

"No, what is it?"

"It's diamonds. Do you know how many water wells could be dug, farms to be planted, and people could be fed just from a handful of diamonds?"

"I don't know, probably alot."

"So if it's God who gave them the natural resources to begin with, and that's just one resource. There is also oil, copper, uranium, natural gas, along with fishing, then why are you blaming God for all the suffering in Africa? But because of the greed of man, corrupt governments, and love of money, those resources which God provided are being used to line the pockets of the rich and powerful, and not being used to help the poor, needy, and hungry. So...shouldn't you be blaming man, who you thought is basically good, and thanking God, who you said was basically evil?"

"Uhhh...you have a good point. Sorry."