Evangelism Focus 07/29/11

A Night At The Anoka County Fair

One of us leans toward photography.............

One of us leans toward evangelism.......................

It works out...............

The story behind the story:

Greg and I spent the evening at the local county fair. Greg likes to take pictures, and there is great "subject" at the fair. While he was setting up his shots (most patient man on earth, really), I walked around and handed out some gospel tracts. I find carnival workers will read the tracts I give them because a great deal of that job involves sitting around and waiting (love to see the tracts being read). Several pictures taken, several tracts handed out. We make a good team.

P.S. We did manage to fit in a few traditional fair-going activities like eating a corn dog (supper) and walking through a few exhibits. At the end...........a lovely evening.

I pray that the gospel seed will take root.

A Day With The Niece

Today, my niece, Carissa, and I spent the day together--a girl's day out. Carissa turned 6 years old in the beginning of July. This was our birthday present to her this year. (It was from Greg and I, but he thought maybe I could "take one for the team" concerning the girly stuff, which I was happy to do).

First, we stopped for a manicure at the local beauty academy. Part of the salon deal was that we got to pick out a polish, have our nails painted with it, and keep the polish. (Carissa thought this was a nice surprise--the name of her color was "Princesses Rule"--it was sparkly--the determining factor in that choice)

Next we had lunch at Truffles and Tortes (if you've spent any time on this blog, you'll know by now this is my favorite "girly" place for special lunch outings).

And we ended the lunch with a nice fancy dessert. Carissa had the Raspberry Fudge Tart (she especially liked the raspberries).

It was a fun day together. Can't go wrong with the gift of time! (and a few girly touches thrown in the mix).

My Friend, Betsy

Let me introduce my friend, Betsy, and tell you how we met.

Two years ago, I went to the Biblical Counseling Conference in Lafayette, Indiana with my friend Kim. The second night of the conference we were invited to a dinner through someone Kim had met at another conference. It was a large gathering (30+ people) at a restaurant. I wasn't even seated next to my friend Kim (who was the only person there that I knew). However, I was seated next to Betsy. Through the course of the evening, Betsy and I started talking about evangelism. I had recently started going out to skate parks and parades to talk to kids about the gospel and hand out tracts. Betsy had recently started her own evangelism ministry with a friend from her Sunday School class at church. They often go to laundromats and seek to share the gospel with the people they find there. Betsy is from Wisconsin (about 4-1/2 hours from where I live in Minnesota).

Since that time, Betsy and her friend Jane have been to visit me twice in Minnesota (they like to go to the Mall of America to share the gospel while they are here). And I've been to visit Betsy twice in Wisconsin (both times making a trip to Wisconsin Dells for evangelism purposes).

Betsy just finished her masters degree in Biblical Counseling and is in the process of becoming a NANC certified counselor. So, we share an interest in Biblical counseling and in evangelism. Betsy also loves to read (loves books) and has been a great resource to me in this area.

Betsy and I are still getting to know each other but are fast becoming dear friends. I marvel how God put us together!

Note: The picture above was taken a year ago (myself on the left, Betsy on the right).

I Corinthians 13:4-7

I've been pondering these verses lately....alot to think about in this small passage.

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

I Corinthians 13: 4-7 (ESV)

Proverbs 28:13

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Proverbs 28:13

As one who lived many years as a false convert (confessing Christianity but not possessing it), concealing transgressions was part of my daily routine. I need verses like this. Another reminder to daily feed myself on God's Word.

Cookie Baking Night 07/18/11

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Ethan, Carissa, and Emily.....and it all started with a bowl of gummy worms.

We made dirt cups using chocolate mousse, cookie crumbs, and gummy worms to decorate. This one was a hit!

This evening we started a special project. I ordered a kit from Voice of the Martyrs that will allow us to make parachutes. The parachutes will be sent back to Voice of the Martyrs and then sent off to Columbia to be dropped by airplane into military guerilla territory. Each parachute will be attached to a bag containing a radio with Christian programming on it, a Bible, and a Christian book. We watched a short DVD about it that came with the kit. (This helped to explain the difference between gorilla in the jungle and guerilla in the jungle). We prayed for the people of Columbia before we started. We cut out the pattern for the parachute tonight and will finish the project next Cookie Baking Night.

As usual, a fun time was had by all!

Evangelism Focus 07/16/11

This weekend I went to Wisconsin to see my friends Betsy and Jane. And I met a new friend, Marla. We made a day trip to Wisconsin Dells, city of water parks and tourist attractions, which means lots and lots of people.

We went there with the intent to share the gospel. We handed out many, many tracts and had several conversations along the way. On main street, we split up. Marla and I took one side of the street and Jane and Betsy took the other. Marla and I had just met that morning, but we ended up making a pretty good team. Marla is much better at starting conversations than I am, but I have no problem talking about spiritual matters once the conversation is started. We soon figured out how to play off of each other's strengths.

A few memorable encounters:

• A young woman named Emily(19) who had no church background (not even Christmas and Easter). She allowed me to share the gospel with her. She listened very intently and was very polite. I urged her to think about what she heard and search it out for herself.
• A man named Bob (love the name Bob!). He was a lot of fun to talk to because he truly thought about every question that was asked and seemed to be intrigued by them. He had a Catholic background but didn't practice any longer. He seemed to lean toward the idea that all people will go to heaven. When asked if that included people who committed great acts of evil (such as Hitler), I could visibly see that he had never thought about that before. Then he said, "I have never thought about that before. I need to think about it." We only got half way through the conversation with Bob before his family came out, and they moved on, but we left him with some good material to mull over.
• My big tract of the day was the red and blue illusion tract. I love that one for people sitting on benches. I handed some out to a large family who had just posed for a picture near one of the benches. A few minutes later one of the girls from that family, a young woman named Francesca (Hi Francesca!) approached me and asked me about my ministry. She told me she was a Christian, and we chatted for a few minutes. We exchanged blog & e-mail addresses. It was a joy to meet her, and I look forward to corresponding with her.
• Our last encounter of the day was with a man named Enrique. He was from Chicago (as was Francesca--oddly enough I met only one person from Wisconsin in Wisconsin Dells). Enrique started out saying he believed that when we died our bodies would go into the ground and our souls would go into something else, much like reincarnation. But halfway through the conversation he said he also believed in Jesus. When I took him through the law, he began to sober. When he said that the bad he has done is in the past and behind him now because he's done many good things since then, I asked if that logic would work in a court of law if he had committed a crime such as rape. I asked if the judge would let him go because he had done many good things. He said, "Not a chance!" The analogy seemed to resonate with him, and he later told us that he had a few friends who were currently in prison (some serving life terms). We left Enrique with a lot to think about and a lot to read (he said he loved to read--we just happened to be prepared for a statement such as that).

Those are just a few of the conversations we had that day and just the conversations Marla and I experienced. The same kind of thing was happening on the other side of the street with Betsy and Jane.

We passed out many tracts, had many conversations, had many rejections, shared the gospel many times. It was a great day!

I pray the gospel will take seed in the hearts of those who heard it and that God will be glorified.

Postscript thought:

When asked the question "What do you think happens to a person when they die?" Many people (close to all) said "I've never thought about that before." That's a good reason to be out there having conversations with strangers. Give them something to think about.

Evangelism Focus 07/15/11

I mentioned last Friday that I visited my brother's friend in the hospital. Click here to read that post. I visited two times. On both visits, Jeff (my brother's friend) was unresponsive (awake but not able to communicate, he had spent some time without oxygen to his brain, and there was the appearance of brain damage). At the point I first visited him, he had been in the ICU at the hospital for 12 days.

I also mentioned that I left the hospital (on both accounts) pleading with God to have mercy on him and allow him to hear (and understand) the gospel one more time.

I stopped back today, a week from my first visit. I was very self-conscious about visiting him for the third time when I hardly knew him. I considered leaving at least three times while I was in the waiting room (waiting for the nurse to give me the clearance to go in and visit him).

When I arrived in the room, I was amazed to find Jeff alert and responsive. We had a lengthy conversation. I was able to share the gospel with him and pray for him.

In the beginning of our conversation I said, "Jeff, God kept you alive for a reason."

He said, "Well if he did I don't know what that reason would be."

I said, "Jeff, if you had died when they first brought you into the hospital, would you have been ready to meet God?"

He said (most emphatically), "No!"

I said, "Well, I think that might be your reason right there."

I left Jeff with some literature about the gospel, and he invited me to stop back and visit next week. I pray God grants him the gift of repentance.

This time, I left the hospital overwhelmed by the mercy and kindness of a great God who hears our prayers.

Pillars of Cloud and Fire

I really liked this Thursday night sermon (from Pastor Doug Roman at Bible Baptist Church). Thought I would share it with you. It's titled "Pillars of Cloud and Fire" from Exodus 13:17-22. Click here to listen to it. Enjoy!

Prayer and Mom

My mom and I live an hour from each other. We speak on the phone often. Though we are both Christians, it had not occurred to us (before now) to focus some of our time together in prayer. We have recently started praying together on the phone before we end our conversation. This has done wonders for our relationship and has added accountability to our conversations together. Gossip and strife are easier to stay away from when the next item on the agenda is prayer with the God of the Universe.

I highly recommend praying with your Christian family members, even those from whom you are separated by distance.

P.S. Since we're on the subject of my mom, tomorrow is her birthday. Happy Birthday, Mom. I am very grateful to God that you are my mother! I love you!

The Tongue

"Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble." Proverbs 21:23

Evangelism Focus 07/08/11

Two nights ago, my brother asked me to visit one of his friends (a childhood friend of ours) in the hospital. I was a little confused by the request because I hadn't seen the man he was speaking of for at least 15 years. My brother finally admitted, "I'm concerned for his soul." Who can refuse a request such as this--an invitation to share the gospel? So, to the hospital I went.

Unfortunately, my brother's friend (Jeff) was in the ICU in critical condition and unresponsive. I let him know I was there and left him the gospel in the form of a tract. I have visited twice now with little response (or capacity to respond) either time.

I left there pleading with God to have mercy on this young man (36) and allow him the opportunity to hear the gospel one more time. I also left there with a heavy heart and renewed desire to share the gospel with those I know while there is still time.

A Little Sleep, A Little Slumber

I passed by the field of the sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and property will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. Proverbs 24: 31-34

On more than one occasion, these verses have popped into my head when I hit the snooze button on my alarm clock in the morning. I think the application fits.

Happy 4th

Happy Independence Day, America! May we not take our freedom for granted while God has allowed it!