Fishing For Men 4/30

I have decided to blog about my witnessing stories, so I will start with last night.

I partnered with Joel as we went out around monument circle downtown, looking for people to talk to. It wasn't long until I spotted a young man sitting on the steps of one side of the monument reading his Bible; more specifically reading the book of Jude. So I went up to him (Matt was his name), and struck up a conversation, to get to know him a little. We talked some about evangelism, and I gave him a "Hell's Best Kept Secret" by Ray Comfort. Joel then invited him to join us for the next conversation, which happened to be with about 7 or so highschool girls dressed up for prom. We went through the law, shared about judgement, the cross, and repentance. Most of the girls were giggly throughout the whole conversation, but Joel and Matt noticed that the girl on the far right was really intent & listening. Over all it was a good conversation, and we know that God had planted some seeds in those girls. Afterwards me, Joel, and Matt prayed for those girls, Joel gave Matt his number, then Matt parted ways.

A little later me and Joel got into a conversation with 3 young ladies (IUPUI students). We took them through the good person test (the law, but we soon got a bit of a debate. Two of the girls were atheists, and one said she believes that there is a God, but also said that she wasn't into the Christian faith. The girl in the middle said that science supports evolution and asked us to give her evidence that science supports creation and prove that there is a God. Joel gave the building and builder analogy, and I gave the example of the human body and how complex it is, but she didn't buy it and stuck with what she believed. Before the girls left I gave the one in the middle "One Heartbeat Away" by Mark Cahill. I wrote my name and email address in the back so just in case she did read the whole thing; she could email me any questions or thoughts she had on the book. I thought that it was a good conversation despite their mockery of God & the Bible. I pray that these girls will come to see the truth, and that God will convict them of their sin, and that they will turn from their sin and place their trust in Christ. Pray that God will save them.

The last conversation was hardly a conversation at all. Me and Joel were sitting down waiting for his younger brother to done with a conversation so we could head out. I noticed 2 teenagers ( a guy and a girl) sitting on the steps not far from us. So I decided to go up to them, hand them a tract each, and hopefully start a conversation. So I went up to them and asked "Get you two get you first million?" They didn't understand me, but the girl with a serious look on her face replied, "I'm a satanist." That shocked me to be honest, cause when going out witnessing we always run into atheist, muslims, Jehohvah's witnesses, etc. This was my first time running into a satanist. "How does that work?", I said to myself out loud, Joel over at this point after seeing my odd expression. "I worship satan, it's like Christianity but backwards. God is satan , and satan is God." ( at this point her friend got up and left). I didn't really know how to respond, but Joel took the reigns and begin to take her through the law. After getting through a couple, she looked around and noticed that her friend left, then she got up and left in search for him. I can't remember if she took the tract or not, but please pray that God will convict her heart sin, and that she'll come to know Christ. May God save her.

Those last two encounters left me just broken for the lost, more compelled than ever to reach a lost and dying with the gospel of Jesus. So that they may hear and be saved. May the truth and power of the God draw them close to Him, and save them.


scripture that I am reminded of:

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep the, from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.--2 Corinthians 4:4

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.--2 Corinthians 5:20

Liberia '10

Liberia; such a beautiful country. God's divine splendor and beauty is displayed for all to see in this beautiful land that was founded by freed-slaves. I was excited that God had given me the oppurtunity to go to Monrovia , Liberia to see how God is working in the lives of the Liberian believers, and serve with humility & compassion. Liberia of course is different from the U.S., as just about every other country in the world in some sort of way. So of course it's difference is what kinda struck me, and was something I had to get use to over my time of being there. Some of these differences were language-they speak english, but their accent (I guess you could say) made it difficult to understand them. Gosh.....I could go on & on about stories of things I've seen, and learned, but there's one thing that really mattered to me in regards to the Liberian. That one things that they know of the the one true God who created them, who deserves honor & praise. Liberia from my own understand has been reached with the Gospel. Though they've been reached, there are still, just like other reached nations, people who haven't heard the Gospel. There are those who don't know Christ as their Lord & Savior. Not to mention there are those who call themselves Christians, who go to Liberia to share a completely different message then the Gospel of Jesus. They go raising up followers to believe in the junk & lies that they give them.
So I know that there is a need for faithful saints to go a bring the truth to those in Liberia who are lost, and have yet to be found; also to those who have been believing the lies of false teachers. May they come to know Christ, and worship the one true God who created them!!

All Consuming Passion

This past Friday night of fishing for men was a fruitful one. God blessed us with some good conversations. Regardless of the fact that there were only 3 of us. Our first conversation was with three B-boys (breakdancers). They showed us some of theirs moves, and gave us a break down on dancing.....break dancing that is. So we said that dancing is their passion, pretty much, and they pretty much assured us that it is. We then proceeded to share the Gospel with them, and they listened intently for the most part. We pretty much shared with them our passion; which is Christ, the Gospel. It was a fun and good conversation at the same time!
Yet it got me thinking about something. As a Child of God I can boldly say that He is my passion. Christ & the Gospel are my passion. It's hard to go a day without thinking about Him; and I don't ever want to. I thank God for saving me, and in response to His phenomenal act of saving grace I try hard every day to live, fight, and die for and with this Passion.
He has given me some gifts too, gifts that I don't deserve, gifts I can use to share my All consuming passion, and glorify & honor my Father who saved me from Himself, for Himself, and by Himself.
I could easily say that these gifts; like writing & music for example are God given passion, but no. Now I consider these gifts that I can use to glorify God, and share His glorious mesage of redemption to the lost. So it is now my prayer that God will give me wisdom on how to use these gifts that's He's given me to do just that; to use them for my all consuming passion, which is Christ, and Him crucified!

Untitled

I'm a lying, thieving, murderous, adulterous, rebellious, blaspheming, idolater; and I don't deserve to be breathing the very breath I breathe right at this moment. I deserve nothing but God's wrath, I deserve nothing but to be cast into hell for breaking God's divine law. And God being a just judge would have to see to it that justice is served. Though He is also loving, and forgiving. And the way He displayed His phenomenal love towards me and still be just, seeing that justice is served is by sending His Son, Christ Jesus to take the punishment that I deserved. Christ was beaten, scourged, mocked, forced to carry His cross to the place of execution, and nailed to it. For my sin and the sins of the whole world were placed on Jesus ( "For our sake He made Him who new no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God'--2 Corinthians 5:21. ). Ultimately the Father's wrath was poured out on Him, so that I may be able enter into a relationship with the Father, and spend eternity with Him for time everlasting!
Now I have trusted Him, and continue to trust Him with my life, and I repent from my life of chasing after sin, and my own selfish desires to follow Christ down this narrow road no matter what the cost. Dying to self, taking up my cross daily. "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count EVERYTHING as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."
I will see to it that those who haven't heard this good news, from near and afar will hear, that they may come to know Him, that they too may become God's children. Nothing can hinder me from doing so; whether it be persecution, famine, sword, NOTHING! They can pluck out my eyes, cut out my tongue, burn me alive, hang me, shoot me up, behead me, but even in my death may the Gospel of Christ reach the ears that haven't heard! I will keep pressing on, with my eyes fixed on Him seated high above the heavens!
May God my Father be glorified in my this life that is not my own! May He be praised among every tribe nation, and tongue! One day I will be join with my brothers and sisters standing before Him who seated on His throne to worship and praise Him from everlasting to everlasting. But until that day comes I must keep running the race, and keep fighting the good fight! For I am unashamed of Christ and the Gospel!

I Weep Over My Sin

"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself prayed thus: 'God I thanks you that I'm not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but he beat his breast saying,'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' -- Luke 16:9-14

I must be completely honest here. Every time after I fall into sin, a great overwhelming feeling of grief and brokeness cover me. Why? Cause I have sinned against the One True God, the creator of the universe, my Father! Just the thought of what I've done, whether it was a little lie or having lustful thoughts towards a woman, or using His name flippantly, or whatever will make me put my head in my hands, to my knees, weeping, begging God to forgive me for doing such a wretched thing.
When you weep over your sin that sure sign that you are truly in the faith, that you are a true Christian. Though if you recognizably sin, yet dismiss it saying to yourself "Oh I need to make sure I don't do that again", or something like that then I suggest you read through 1 John to test yourself and see that your in the faith. If you truly are saved then you will hate sin to the point that whenever you fall into sin, you are broken and grieve over it.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."-- Matthew 5:4

I Desire Him!!! cont. (To Know Him Is Life Everlasting)

I wrote this a couple weeks ago which shows how much I desire to know God more.

I have been, and still am to this very moment, unsatisfied with Satisfaction.
Who is this Satisfaction?
He is the God of the Universe.
The One who knows all, sees all, hears all, comprehends all, is control of all things, and holds everything big, small, and inbetween together.
I even heard it once said that, "He saved me from Himself, for Himself, and by Himself".
And it's because of this that have been able to enter into a relationship with Him.
Although I am with Him, and He with me, and though I hear about Him, doesn't mean I fully know Him.
So I say it's time that get to know Him, the one True God, more than what I've been told.
Yes, I long to know from the depths of my soul.
To know Him in every way humanly possible.
I thirst for Him as if I was a well that has been entirely dry for ages.
I long to chase after His heart. Love what He loves. Hate what He hates.
For there is no other I desire, nor long for.
He satisfies me; making me overflow way beyond the brim, yet I still can't get enough of Him.
Less of me, and more of Him.
For to know Him is life everlasting.

I Desire Him!!!!!!

Lately I have had this hunger, desire, this.....longing for God. To hear his voice, see his face, to be near His presence, and dig into His Word and devour it! No such feeling is better!
This song from Remedy Drive comes to mind (boy do I love my music): Get To Know You.

I heard so much of You I wrote a book
Thick with facts of You that I heard were true
The critic read my work and they reviewed
"He wrote of things he heard but never really knew."

I say its time that I get to know You
More than just what I've been told
I say its time that I get to know You
I wanna know from my soul

This is just the first verse and chorus. Yet from what you can see, it's easy to understand what the writer is trying to say. I feel the same way right now! I want to know God more than what I've been told, I wanna know Him from my soul!
Here's the phenomenal thing to ponder. The finite mind of man cannot grasp how GREAT and PHENOMENAL infinite nature and character of God! Even when we get to heaven we still won't be able to grasp it! Yet God being rich in His love and compassion, gives us just teeny bit of crumbs of Himself to us,. And when we receive these crumbs, and devour them, it satisfies us in a way that we have never been satisfied before! Yet we haven't even come anywhere near close of scratching the surface of Him. How insane is that?

I want You, Father
I need You, Father
My heart long for You, Father
All of You Father
Only You Father