"There Is Hope...Make The Call"

White letters on a blue background. This sign is posted above phone boxes on & around the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, in an effort to prevent people from committing suicide by leaping off the bridge. Over 1,600 people have done so since the bridge opened, with a record 46 people last year. This past week, the Golden Gate Bridge Authority approved spending in excess of $70 million to install steel safety nets, to prevent or catch people who might attempt this in the future.

As a Christian, I know that human life is precious: we are made in the image of Almighty God, created by Jesus Christ to have a living relationship with Him. I also know that, while Jesus tells us that He came that we might have life, and that more abundantly (John 10:10), in that same verse he tells us that the Thief - that is, our adversary, the Devil - comes not but for to steal,and to kill, and to destroy. That is Satan's "wonderful plan for your life"...to get you so messed up in your mind both through sin and through living in this fallen, groaning creation (Romans 8:21-23) that you would run away from God, kill yourself without receiving the free gift of forgiveness in Jesus Christ, and end up in eternal Hell forever. So, I am all for installing a safety net under this landmark bridge.

AUDIO LINK

I used this piece of news as an illustration in my open-air message at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market on Saturday: how that Jesus Christ is the "safety net" provided by God for all of humanity, to catch us up in his mighty nail-pierced hands, and save us from falling into Hell. While not a perfect analogy, it provided a framework to speak to my neighbors down on Court Avenue about sin, death, and Hell; the gospel and the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary; justification by faith alone in Christ alone, and the gift of eternal life. Click on the link above & listen. 

I also had 2 very good gospel conversations at the Market, with a Hispanic Roman Catholic family, and with 2 Hindu men from India who were enjoying the Market with their families. I really appreciated the cordial conversations we had, and if the audio is any good, I may post them later.

Feel free to post comments. Maranatha.

In Season, Out of Season

2 Timothy 4:1-2 

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Wow...Friday was a whirlwind day for evangelism & ministering under the blue sky here in Marshalltown. If you labor out-of-doors like we do, you know there are days when you can't get one single tract into someone's hand, or you can't get a gospel conversation started...and it is real easy to get discouraged. But, we keep on keeping on, knowing our labor in the Lord is not in vain no matter what (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Well, Friday as not like that. Over my lunch break I went downtown with my satchel full of tracts, and one Bible to give away. I ran into a couple, Molli &John, in front of Zamora's Fresh Market on
the corner of Main & Center Street. A Round Tuit gospel tract led to a 20-minute conversation about Heaven, Hell, the gospel, salvation, Bible doctrine vs. Roman Catholicism, sanctification & living as a believer. They took a Bible, too, and were very open to the things of God we were discussing.

I drove to my Wal-Mart corner after work, and set up the "Free Bibles...Need Prayer?" sign, and brought out a couple of different witnessing crosses to the corner. It was uncharacteristically calm for Iowa: I could hold the cross up on my shoulder which gives better visibility to south-bound traffic. Had several people stop, either to encourage me or for Bibles. Either way, I always share the hope that I have in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:15), because I've found that many people who stop by to say thanks or to give a cold soda (summer) or hot chocolate (winter), many of these don't have assurance of salvation or a clear understanding of how to be saved. To those who do know the Lord, I usually ask them to pass along a gospel tract to someone they know who needs it, and encourage them to boldly share Jesus Christ with as many people they can, until He comes!

It was about 6 PM when I called Mary to let her know I was wrapping up and heading home. But after I hung up, a couple things happened: my phone battery died, cutting off communication with my wife, and the Lord brought 3 additional encounters my way.

Lorenzo came over as I was loading up my stuff in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Seems he is here from Romania, and was panhandling for money to get him & his family down to Arizona. We talked a bit; he said he needed enough money for 4 tanks of gas to get down there from here. I was able to bless him with $50 that I had on me for just such an occasion (Jesus says it is more blessed to give than receive, so I had that in an envelope, just waiting for an opportunity). But with the cash I also gave Lorenzo a "God of Wonders" DVD, which is sub-titled in Romanian, and also a deep discussion on the differences between his traditional Orthodox religion (as in Greek Orthodox or Russian Orthodox) and Biblical Christianity. Being raised a Roman Catholic, I can identify with much of his religion, plus I've read up on it a bit. He also took a Bible, and I shared with him some scriptures & we discussed how our religions were contrary to much of God's revealed word (Exodus 20, John 3:16, 26; 1 John 5:13, Philippians 4:6-7). He acknowledged his need to trust Jesus alone, and expressed that he was repentant and was trusting in the Lord Jesus right there. He wanted to give me a hug as we parted, and I pray he truly understands the gospel and is a now a new man in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17).

While we were talking, Terry, a local homeless man came up and hung around a few feet away. I met Terry a couple of years ago while out ministering, when I bought him a meal at Hy-Vee and shared Jesus with him. Terry has gone from a shaky situation then to just flat-out on the rocks since. I always greet him with "How ya doing?" and he always replies, "Not very good." I'm not the fountain of money for habitual panhandlers, so I usually point Terry to the House of Compassion for a meal when he hits me up. Not because I don't care, but because I don't want to help Terry keep on going down the destructive path he's on. This evening, when he replied with the usual, "Not very good!", I just sat in the open hatch of my car and started talking to Terry man-to-man: like what was he doing with his life, and what was he going to do to get on a better trajectory? Terry shared about how his drugging & alcohol had destroyed the fragile family ties he had, and that now none of his family would have anything to do with him. He said he hadn't just burned his bridges with his family, he'd blown them up!

I told him that first, he needed to get his life right with Almighty God, through genuine repentance & faith in Jesus Christ. Then, he needed to find any kind of work possible - how God created us men to work, and how that if a man wouldn't work, he shouldn't get food from people who do (2 Thess 3:10). By getting on track with God first, and then taking personal responsibility, I suggested he go to his family and seek forgiveness for being such a jerk of a brother, and that God was in the business of fixing even blown-up bridges. I ended up giving Terry some cash for a meal (violating my own rule!), and he took a New Testament & Psalms, saying he needed to get right with God, and that he wanted to know where my church was because he wanted to go there. Now I am no prophet, but Terry will not be showing up at my church building any time soon. But I do pray he will open his heart and mind to the truth of the gospel, and come to Jesus Christ before it is eternally too late.

Finally, as Terry walked away towards Wal-Mart, a couple came up asking for help finding a place to stay for the night. They'd been at the House of Compassion last night, but there were no rooms for Friday night. They were putting in applications to find work here, and needed to wash clothes and get cleaned up so they could land something. Aside from HOC, I couldn't think of any place, so I offered to get them a motel for the night. They insisted they didn't want charity, but I let them know that I knew of nothing else, and that God has blessed me with eternal life, and I wanted to bless them by helping out. So we went a couple blocks south to the Motel 6, and I got them 3 nights, to get them through the weekend, and gave them a "God of Wonders", a "One Second After" book, and a Bible. We talked about the gospel, and I let them know that they could eat a couple of meals at our friend Andy's China Buffet restaurant up the road, my treat.

I stopped at the China Buffet to arrange things, and it was after 7 PM, so I borrowed a phone to call Mary, who was now out looking for me, since I had told her I was heading home earlier, and had not responded to her text messages since then! Well, it is not always convenient, but when at all possible, we want to be ministering the gospel & demonstrating the love of God, so that others may come to know Him, whom to know is LIFE ETERNAL! (John 17:3) Convenience has nothing to do with laboring for our Lord Jesus Christ. Oh God, give me the desire, the strength and the energy to live a yielded life to you!

Friends, please join us in praying for these dear souls mentioned, and also pray for us, and for our brothers and sisters in Jesus around the world. Maranatha!

Another Response To Jared's Comment

Just as a reminder, this was Jared's comment on a blog post about me going to Manti, UT to witness to Mormons. 

If you are so enthused about your faith, why don't you preach it rather than tear down anothers? You are clearly targeting the faith of a specific church when you should be promoting your own. The Mormon church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons clearly believe in Jesus Christ just like you do. I would suggest you focus on your similarities rather than your differences. You clearly don't believe what they do but they clearly don't believe what you think they believe. Would Christ have disputed with a group of people claiming to be his followers or would he have simply introduced himself to them? Your method of targeting the Mormons is sad and un christ like. There are many people that need the message of Christ in your own communities. I would suggest you start there and stop targeting any particular individual faith. Combining with other faiths that are not your own to tear down one that you all think is the weakest. That's what a group of bullies would do. Mormon's are good people that value families and serving their neighbor's and communities. Surely you can find someone better to preach your message to.

I have to admit I was a little taken back by the comment.  It described me as a person who hates Mormons and people of other faiths than my own.  That was not the case, and it couldn't be furthrer from the truth.  The fact is, is that I am deeply concerned for the Mormon people.  Enough to travel 2 days and over 2,500 miles on a stinky, cramped bus with many people I didn't know, to camp out and get eaten by bugs, and get yelled at by people who would rather see me crawl in a hole and die.  Sounds like a blast right?  But the reason I went was to share the real Jesus Christ with those who "claim" to know Him. 


Revelation 3:1 says, "“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead..."  Just because they have the name "Jesus Christ" in their title does not mean they are Chrisitian.  Do they worship, revere, and regard as divine Christ, the Son of God?  No.  In fact you will never see a cross on the steeple of a LDS meeting house, but a figure of the Angel Moroni.  They in fact worship angels, above the Son of God. 

And lets take a look at the tract that I purchased from the LDS bookstore in Salt Lake City, UT I had given those teens: 

Notice who's missing?  JESUS CHRIST!!!  If Jesus was so important to Mormons, why is He NOT in God's plan of salvation?  Christianity cannot exist without CHRIST!!!  Christ is Christianity.  I didn't write this, the LDS church did. 

Also, this sign was posted everywhere we went that was on LDS grounds:  Any why is that the case?   If we are the same, believe in Jesus Christ, and brothers and sisters in the faith, then why can't I evangelize and proclaim Him on LDS property?  Why would I be threatened with arrest if we both believe in Christ?  Love thy brother right?  The reason is, (and they know this) is that we believe in a different Jesus than they do.  Even their former prophet and seer Gordon B. Hinkley believed that, and stated it numerous times. 

In a nutshell, if you think that LDS is Christian, you have been duped Jared.  Maybe you were lied to by the Mormon Missionaries that came to your door.  Maybe you have a friend of family member share Mormonism with you and since they are so friendly they MUST be Chrisitan...right?  If you want a great and fair analysis between Mormonism and Christianity, please go to this website.  On the front page you will see a chart on the differences between Mormonism and Christianity. 


I also ask that you would watch this well done documentary called : The Bible Vs The Book of Mormon. It's a great start to show the differences between our faith. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this.  If you have any other questions please email me at:  Fchirico72@gmail.com

 

Why Witness to Mormons? Response to Jared's Comment.

Got a comment from "Jared" from an article written last year by Frank Chirco, regarding a mission trip he took to Manti, Utah, to witness to people who follow The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or "Mormons"). I am going to re-post Jared's comments here for you to examine. Also, there are 2 links near the end of this article - one a video of Walter Martin - that you should check out, so drop down there and do so before leaving!

Jared writes:
"If you are so enthused about your faith, why don't you preach it rather than tear down anothers? You are clearly targeting the faith of a specific church when you should be promoting your own. The Mormon church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons clearly believe in Jesus Christ just like you do. I would suggest you focus on your similarities rather than your differences. You clearly don't believe what they do but they clearly don't believe what you think they believe. Would Christ have disputed with a group of people claiming to be his followers or would he have simply introduced himself to them? Your method of targeting the Mormons is sad and un christ like. There are many people that need the message of Christ in your own communities. I would suggest you start there and stop targeting any particular individual faith. Combining with other faiths that are not your own to tear down one that you all think is the weakest. That's what a group of bullies would do. Mormon's are good people that value families and serving their neighbor's and communities. Surely you can find someone better to preach your message to."

I tried to contact Jared via email, thanking him for commenting, and asking some questions (Are you LDS? What does it take to make it to Heaven?) but I got no reply. So here are my responses to Jared below, broken down into 4 points (hover your cursor over the scripture references and the verses will pop-up so you can read them):

First, let me quote a well known Mormon Apostle and Prophet, Orson Pratt:

"Convince us of our errors of doctrine, if we have any, by reason, by logical arguments, or by the Word of God, and we will be ever grateful for the information, and you will ever have the pleasing reflection that you have been instruments in the hands of God of redeeming your fellow beings from the darkness which you may see enveloping their minds."

Orson Pratt, Apostle Orson Pratt, The Seer, pp. 15‑16

Very good: exactly what Frank and his companions went to Manti to do, Jared. Orson Pratt does not seem to have a problem with it, so I'm not sure why you do. But here goes....

1.If you are so enthused about your faith, why don't you preach it rather than tear down anothers? You are clearly targeting the faith of a specific church when you should be promoting your own.

Response: I do preach Biblical Christianity and the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Contrary to your statement, the Bible exhorts us to "earnestly contend for the faith which was ONCE delivered unto the saint. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the ONLY Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 3-4). Truth by its very nature is narrow, so by declaring the one true God of the Bible, the true Jesus Christ, and the true gospel of salvation by faith in Christ alone apart from works, I exclude the false man-become-God "Heavenly Father" of the LDS faith, the false Jesus Christ who did not create all things (Colossians 1:16), and a salvation based on faith + your works. Not because I hate Mormons. On the contrary, it is an act of love to reach out to these who will perish in their sins if they stick with their LDS religion (John 17:3)

2. The Mormon church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons clearly believe in Jesus Christ just like you do. I would suggest you focus on your similarities rather than your differences.

Response: Jared, nothing could be further from the truth! The Jesus Christ of the LDS is NOT the Biblical Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:16-20 tell us that Jesus created all things. The Mormon Jesus did not: according to the LDS, he did not create Lucifer, he did not create the Mormon spirit babies, he did not create the planet Heaven Father was born on, etc. The Biblical Jesus claimed to be the I AM (John 8:58-59), and the reaction of the Jews proves the point: he was claiming to be the LORD. 

Your advice to focus on the similarities goes contrary to what God says in the Bible according to Ephesians 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." And further, the Apostle Paul proclaims divine damnation on anyone - ANYONE - who would bring in "another gospel" than that which he first preached to the church in Galatia: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:7-9) "Accursed" here means to be damned by God to Hell. That is heavy, but look at the consequences...millions or billions of people could be deceived by a false gospel and a false Christ, die still in their sins, and end up in Hell as well.

3. "Your method of targeting the Mormons is sad and un christ like. There are many people that need the message of Christ in your own communities. I would suggest you start there and stop targeting any particular individual faith."

Response: Wrong again! Jesus Christ himself commands his followers to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15) . Last time I checked, Manti, Utah is part of "all the world." The people to go there, go with the message of the gospel, and challenge the LDS by exposing the differences between LDS and Biblical Christianity. Because the love them, and want them to be saved from their sins and the wrath of God.

I do minister the hope of the gospel in my community. Did you read nothing else on the Iowa Seed Sowers website? Did you look at the calendar of events, and see I am out at least twice a week, giving away free Bibles and gospel tracts, and offer to pray for the needs of my friends & neighbors here? Where you around last Wednesday night when I mowed the grass for the widow with 4 small children who lives across the street? Not that I need to defend myself from your accusations - God sees and God knows, and my aim is to please him....

And further, the LDS church sends MILLIONS of missionaries all over the world to proselytize their faith and repeat the lies of Joseph Smith. Why is that okay? I spoke with two LDS missionaries just this past Thursday: they like to use words that make you think we are all believing the same things, when really they are light-years apart! Know where the Mormons get most of their converts? From other religions! They pluck many Bible-illiterate professing "Christians" out of their churches and into the LDS religion. Why is that okay for the LDS but not for me?

4. "Combining with other faiths that are not your own to tear down one that you all think is the weakest. That's what a group of bullies would do. Mormon's are good people that value families and serving their neighbor's and communities. Surely you can find someone better to preach your message to."

Response: We do not combine with other religious faiths, period, so that's that. 

The LDS church is one of the richest and organized religions around, so I don't agree with your idea about them being weak. Bullies? When we do reach out the lost around us, we don't call them names. Real, Biblical, caring Christians are far from being bullies: we speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

But speaking of that, in areas of the country where LDS is predominant, if a person leaves Mormonism, they are the ones ostracized by their former church brethren & neighbors. Utah has one of the highest rates of divorce in the nation. Know why? Because if one of the spouses - husband or wife - decides to leave the Mormon church, it messes up the ability for the other spouse to be exalted (as they falsely believe) to become Gods, so they divorce that person & hitch their wagon to someone following the Mormon faith correctly, so they can become Gods, have spirit children on some other planet, and be worshiped by those children as their Heavenly Father or Heavenly Mother. Wow!

Biblical Christians know that our Lord Jesus told us there would be a cost to following him. Christians in Muslim countries take their life in their hands to follow Jesus. Here in the States, it is usually limited to name-calling, maybe losing the esteem of men, maybe getting the cold shoulder from family. Times are changing, and the persecution will be coming. But right now, it is worse for Mormons, or Jehovah's Witnesses, maybe some Roman Catholics. When they leave these cults, they may be cut-off from family and friends. Ultimately we who know Christ know that if we suffer for Jesus' name in this life, our eternity with him will be just that much more glorious (Matthew 5:11-12). 

You say Mormons are "good people", and this, I think, is the key issue behind the comments here. Jared, do you consider yourself to be a good person? Compare yourself to God's moral law, the Ten Commandments: if you have ever lied, you are a liar; if you've ever stolen something, however small, you are a thief; if you've looked at a woman with lust, Jesus says you are guilty of committing adultery with her already in your heart. Still think you (or anyone else) is "good" according to God's standard? (Check out this LINK for more)

So, no, Jared, I cannot think of someone better to share the Biblical God, Jesus, and gospel with than lost people. See, Mormons and everyone else fall far short of God's perfect standard. If we all got what we deserved, we'd ALL end up in Hell. That's why Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, and laid down his life on Calvary's cross, was buried, and rose again. He took the wrath of God upon himself, so that we could take the grace and mercy of God in him. Forgiveness, mercy, love, acceptance, and eternal life are a gift from God, paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ, and is received by faith in what he did for us, personally. Plus nothing. And because God has given us this gift, we want to share it with as many people as possible.

And to finish, here's a link to an old Dr. Walter Martin giving a talk in Brigham City, Utah, and which will answer Jared's questions and provide responses that are far better than I could come up with. Please watch it:

In Season: M'town Witnessing at the local Summer Market

View from corner of Main Street & Center Street

The Lord gave us a beautiful day, and the season for the Marshalltown Farmers Market around the Courthouse has begun. And that means witnessing for Jesus Christ to my friends & neighbors here. I got to drop by with a witnessing cross and tracts, and it was a good time. I got to have conversations with two LDS Missionaries, Grant & "Mr. Deeds" (missed his first name - I couldn't bring myself to refer to these very young men as "elder", despite their name badges) who happened to walk by. And there was Chen, an Chinese young man who is an engineering Intern from Iowa State, working at a local manufacturer for the summer.

Shadow of me & my witnessing cross

Got some gospel tracts out, and had some good conversations, especially with the Mormon lads. I am looking forward to running into them again around town. I know they do not have the correct information for what it takes to go to Heaven, and that LDS doctrine deviates severely from Biblical Christianity. We who have received the gift of eternal life have to reach out to these lost ones. I hope you will join with me in prayer, that the Lord will give more opportunities to speak truth into their lives, and that they might repent & believe on the REAL Jesus Christ before it is eternally too late.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

John 4:35-36