My brother who lives out of state, recently came to visit me. He stayed at my house for a few days and we had great time visiting. Being a good host, I frequently asked my brother if he wanted some tea, or soda or water to drink and most of the time he’d reply, “I’m good.” He’d say I’m good. Then I would politely tell my brother that none of us are good. Jesus said there’s none good, but God (Mark 10:18). [Read more…]
We had five fishermen Friday night, but not many “fish”. Yes, we are fishers of men and we were excited to be downtown witnessing even in the extremely hot weather, but there just weren’t many people milling around. Robert and Carl came out with Keven and Pastor Mike and I were there too. We handed out tracts for about an hour and I brought a short message at that first corner. One guy flipped me off the whole time he turned the corner in front of us, but that was about it as far as mockers go. A couple of women listened for a while from across the street.
After I brought a message, we all headed to the square. It turned out Keven and his group were going to visit a friend, so Pastor Mike and I stayed near the square and handed out tracts. One young man asked me if I was getting ready to preach and I told him that I already brought a message. He asked what Scripture I used, so I told him that it was about the Pharisee and tax collector in Luke 18:10-14. While we were talking to the young man, Brian a state representative from Branson, MO came up and shook our hands. He thanked us for witnessing downtown and told us that he goes out witnessing on the square in Branson with some people from his church. That was encouraging to hear too. Pastor Mike and I had some takers and some rejectors of Gospel tracts.
On the way to see their friend, Keven and his guys handed out tracts too. Here’s what Keven said happened before they got to their friend’s apartment: “After you guys left, the 3 of us were walking along South St. & Walnut and I handed a tract to some young guy, who said, what’s this? “Jesus, the gospel” I say and he said “Do you wanna tell me about it?” And it was on. He was a bit drunk, and admitted it, but was quiet & respectful and actually asked questions that made sense. Such as, if Jesus died for the sins of the world, are we not automatically just forgiven? No, you have to ask for it. Then Carl gave a bit of his testimony. Then the guy’s two friends sort of dragged him off”. We praise God for this encounter. May God save the young man and may the Lord bless the tracts that were handed out.
(These updates are provided to encourage Christians to share the Gospel with others. Hand out Gospel tracts, tell others how God saved you when you repented of your sins and put your faith in Jesus)
Tonight we are out here to talk about a subject that no one wants to talk about, but the subject is something that happens to all of us. We are out here tonight to talk about dying. Not just about dying, but about dying well. We are all going to die one day. You can’t cheat death. It happens to all of us, even though we don’t like to talk about it. But since we are all going to die one day, it is important to talk about. Yes, we need to talk about dying and more importantly, we need to talk about dying well. [Read more…]
Friday night witnessing downtown was a very encouraging night. Pastor Mike came out with us for the first time, so he was nervous. Keven and I hadn’t been out for about six months. We didn’t have God’s favor or unction during that time, so we didn’t go witnessing. (Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain Psalm 127:1). So even though it was Pastor Mike’s first time street witnessing and Keven and I hadn’t been out for a really long time, it turned out to be a night full of encouragement. [Read more…]
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What are Christians to do at a time like this? It all seems so hopeless. Our country is running amuck. Those in power call evil good and good evil. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20). Oh the sky is falling! What are Christians to do? What are we to do during these dark times? [Read more…]
On New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2020, a 29 year-old killed his girlfriend and her 13 year-old son. The man also tried to kill the woman’s two daughters, ages 7 and 14, but they both survived the attack. This happened right here in Springfield, Missouri. This was a shocking crime in Southwest Missouri. But this horrendous crime pales in comparison to King Herod killing 2,000 boys that were 2 years old and younger in Bethlehem. Herod ordered the killings because he was trying to kill baby Jesus. Obviously, King Herod failed in his attempt, but he did succeed in his atrocious act of killing 2,000 precious little boys. [Read more…]
Did you know that you are born to die? We are born with a sinful nature. In other words, our parents were sinners, their parents were sinners and on and on all the way back to Adam and Eve. The first parents sinned in the garden of Eden and we’ve all sinned since then. The soul that sins, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20). Yes we are sinners. Yes we all die. But there was one born to die, who never sinned. [Read more…]
I love the old hymn Rescue The Perishing by Fanny Crosby. The first line is: Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. Then the chorus goes: Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. Rescue the perishing. Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. Yes, Jesus is mighty to save. The Lord is the only way of salvation – there is no other. Rescue the perishing. This aptly describes street witnessing. [Read more…]
It rained most of the day Friday and was still raining when we first started witnessing. But the rain stopped after only about 10 minutes and was clear after that. Only had two mockers that I remember. The first guy was telling me to shut up and looked quite angry. Keven crossed the street to give the guy a chance to talk, but the mocker just walked away. After that I was mentioning different sins and talked about how all sexual relations outside of biblical marriage are sins. At that exact moment, a couple were walking down the street and the woman yelled “Woo hoo” to sexual immorality. [Read more…]
When you hear the words firey serpents, you may think of video games or sci fi movies. But did you know firey serpents are mentioned in the Bible? After God sent the ten plagues upon Egypt and rescued the Israelites, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Much of that time wandering they spent complaining against God and against Moses. After one of the times they complained, God sent firey serpents. These were deadly serpents and many of the Israelites died from the serpents’ bites. After the people confessed their sin, God made a way of escape and this way of escape pointed to a future way of escape for all of us who repent and trust Jesus. [Read more…]