John 4

One of my classes in on the Gospel of John. I have been learn a lot about who John is and also what he is trying to prove with signs that Jesus is Christ so people will believe. My assignment for tomorrow is John 4. I also have to read a commentary called Encountering John by Andreas J. Köstenberger. One thing that cought my attention is the fact that when Jesus tells his disciples that the harvest is ready when they brought him food in v. 31-38. Jesus is telling that the harvest ready to be saved and brought into a relationship with Jesus. John the Baptist did the sewing and now Jesus' Dicipiles need to reap the ready crop. Not only that, Jesus also states that, "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonder, ... you will never believe." (v. 48 NIV) Köstenberger says that verse is telling that sign will not save people and that it is God alone who bring people to him. I hurt to think that our evangelism has missed this point when we reduced the gospel to say this prayer and you are saved. If a person wants to pray for salvation with me I will allow him, but I encourage them to make sure I am right. This also allows God to save them with out me taking the credit.

It is Febuary and I'm stressed out.

I have successfully stressed myself out once again. I have a speech due in 22 days, a 300 page book due in 25 days, plus all of the other home work I have.

But today is a special day for you because I am going to post a article I posted on Ambassador Alliance. It is a site for street witnessers to get together to share witnessing encounters and also ask questions to get advice on dealing with different groups. It is also for people you have attended the Ambassador Training in LA with Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron, and other members of Living Waters. It is a weekend in which you street witnessness, open-air preach, stop light preach, and other ways to share the gospel. This article is about my trip to the mall here in Lynchburg, VA. Enjoy.

Today, I went again to the mall. I was to meet one of my classmates. She did not show up but it was my fault for getting info. I might just have to make cards to hand out. Ed, the guy who normally goes with me, could not come because his street is icy and it started to snow again here in Lynchburg, VA after dumping a foot of snow this past weekend. As I was waiting for my classmate and watching for the security, I had get a couple of opportunity to witness to some guys. I figured the best way to have someone found me was to witnesses with some people since that is why I was there. The first person I talked to was Kevin. He did not know at first if he would go to heaven or hell but after asking the question again, he decided he was good enough to go to Heaven. He was joking around a little and laughing so I asked what he knew about hell. He realized that I was serious about him and did not want him to die and go to hell. He had to get to work so I let him go. The next person was Zack, I think, I am bad with names. He accepted Jesus when he was 4 but, what seems like lot Christians I witness to, he could not tell me the Gospel. I went through the good person test and shared the good news that Christ took our punishment so he did do not have to. I asked if he had every repent and trust. His answered surprise me a little, because he said no. I urge him to repent and trust in Christ because you do not know when you will die. After Zack, I saw a group of guys, there was 4 of them. I handed them million dollars and one a ticket to heaven. One actually tore it but it took him a lot of strength. All 4 were going to heaven because they accepted Jesus; I asked them to tell me the Gospel with 3 mins to live. They jokingly said that it is too late to be asking that. I went through the Gospel with them and express that they need to share the law to show the person they are sinners. I ended this conversation telling them that they to repent and trust in Christ. As I was talking these young men, I noticed the security guard walking with a sheriff, so I kinda left so I was not thrown out. I wanted to witness more but without getting in trouble. It was good day to preach the Gospel and I just pray that these people turn to Christ.

Sir, You are not allow to solicit here.

Going to the mall to witness to some people has been a highlight because you just do not know who you run into. When street witnessing in England, you knew they were not Christian, for the most part. I had 2 good conversations today while at the mall. The first was to 3 young men. I used the curve illusion with the ticket to heaven, and some MDB. There were 2 ladies but the left. Two out of the three guys said that will go to Heaven and the other said to Hell because he has been bad. I would take them through the good person test and would watch them seem pretty convicted. They would probably never guess that on a field trip for DECA that they would have been witness to. It was a nice conversation since 2 of they had cross necklaces on. Please pray for them. I do not remember their names but God knows.

The next conversation would get kick out of the mall for soliciting. This man is name Isa, Jesus in Arabic, who was Muslim. He was sure that he would be going to heaven because he has done enough work. I used the law once and now realize that I should have used it again. It might not have mattered since he would never apply the law to himself without having other people involve. His friend was not that great of help even if he claimed to be a Christian. His friend would say that he has a faith so he is good and who am I to judge Isa. I told me that I was not judging but if the Bible is correct, his friend would go to hell because he does not understand Jesus rightly and that he has sinned against God. Isa would also never admit that every deserved Hell because he had sin against a holy God. I did tell him that lying lip are an abomination to the Lord and that all lairs will be thrown into the lake of fire. One mistake that I took away was that I was trying to convince him with knowledge and not always with God’s word. I need to remember that I do not save people, it if God and that God’s word will convict him. Even though it was not a great witness encounter, I learned a little about my tactic. One thing that I thought was interesting was that he would never admit that he was working to Heaven with work-righteousness. He could never say that but that is all that he said.

So reason for the title. I was told this by a security guard from the mall to end the conversation.

2 Days, 2 Blog posts, and something else.

This is a huge event. For the first time in 2010, I will write 2 blog post on back-to-back days. I want to give you want this blogs does not offer much. I have been thinking about what this recent car crash I was involved in has taught me. It has thought me that God is in control. It just happened that I was listen to Wretched Radio and the host Todd Friel has been talking about why part does God have in Haiti. He talks about how know matter what happen, God is still in control and it happened because God allowed or ordained it. This has been what has get me on the straight road with this trial I went/going through right now. I am sorry that I am not the get with Bible verses to help but I went in search because I know that God is faithful. Is I was looking for a verse is Psalm 140-149, I do not remember what Psalm it was in, I remember a what my EVAN 101 special guest said today, from Psalm 55. David starts out in verse 1 saying, " Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan(.)" (Psalm 55:1-2, ESV) David is talking about enemy is that is drawing near. In verse 4, David talks about that he heart is heavy and how he fears that we will not make. Starting in verse 9, David pleas that God destroys those evil people. Then in verse 16 David says, "But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me." (Psalm 55:16-18, ESV) How great is this God that is able to help us when we are low and are trying to understand what is going on. James tells us to rejoice in all trials (James 1:2-3), while Peter tells us that God test our faith to make sure it is genuine (1 Peter 1:6-7). As I finish this post, I just think how much Jesus also suffered here on earth and how much more on the cross. Yet he defeated it all and God received the glory. How much must I submit to his will and give him to glory for what he has done. This car crash has reveled that.

This small trial has reminded me although I may not finish this semester, God is in control and I must submit to his plans. He will not leave me or forsake me and yet even when we get surrounded with problems, he has a plan that helps us and not harm us. O, how great is our God!

Pics from Wreck.

Here some pictures of the cruiser. The front grill is right on the engine and not attached to the bumper as the picture looks.


Here is an little update. One person has gone in for additional medical help for headaches. Please pray for him and a quick recovery. I am currently waiting for my money to buy a 1996 Hinda Accord 4 door. It is weird that every car I have bought has been older then the last. It started with an 06 Chevy Cobalt 2 door coupe. Then it went to the PT, which is an 2002. Now a 1996, I was 10 btw, Honda Accord. I am expecting my next car to be a 1986 Mini, just kidding. I do not know if I will keep the Honda because it is an automatic instead of a manual, which means that the Honda is the first automatic transmission I have owned. I might give an overview of what God did. That will depend on my school work. I have a fully book schedule and now I am trying to get another job for updating some equipment like a new laptop.

4-Car Crash

This is going to be a public announcement of sorts. I was involved in a 4 car crash heading to church. The traffic stop suddenly and being in the proper distance from the car in front of me, I hydroplaned into him because it was raining and the road where wet. A Liberty Student hydroplaned into me shortly after. I was the only one to not drive off. Praise God that no one was hurt. The car in front of me because of my impact hit the car in front of him but very little damage was done. I was formal charged with Reckless driving: failure to maintain proper control as was the lady who was behind me. This charged is given to anyone who rear-ends another car. I have to appear in court but the max fine is $30 plus court fees. The officer told me that the judge could throw it out since it was raining and I was not doing anything wrong. It will also depend on my driving record which has been clear since I was pulled over last, according to my US driving record, in Oklahoma in 2006. My neck hurts from the impact but other than that I am fine. A problem that now arises is the fact that financially, I can not handle buying a car or $500 to fix the PT. Even thought this has happened, I am trying to not get anxious over it. I need to trust in God that it will work out for the good to bring him glory and not myself. As of right now, I am examine myself to see if God might be trying rebuke me for sin or was it an opportunity to witness to someone. All I know now, is that God is still in control and he allowed it to happen so His grace can be on display. In response to this unfortunate crash, I will lay the burdens down at the cross and let God work and let him lead and I will follow like a little child.

Prayers that this will be resolved and everything works out. I am expecting that they will be hiccups to test me. Pray that I will have an unwavering trust in God to handle it. Thanks to all.

Sometimes You Just have to Feel Humbled because of God.

I just got off the phone with a friend. Just before we hung-up he was talking about how he was been thinking of how God is orchestrating this cosmic play. I just think of all the people I know from Utah to England and in between. The fact that God had ordained me to know people and get to know people as I make choices that impact my life. I can honestly say that when I think of all the people that God has placed in my life to help develop into the person I am . The person I was on the phone with is the person that shared to me for the first time the gospel. This was 5 years ago when a mutual friend said we should meet. At the time was not a Christian. It would take the beating down for 1 week in Basic Training to see my need for a savior. Just think about all the people that you know. What makes it more amazing is that we are connected because of God. God has placed people in ours lives and had us established relationships with them. It shows that God is truly bigger than one can imagine. That he knows all and observes all. Then you have Sunday, when all you worship the true God come to give Him the praise. We often wonder why God places in different areas. That was a battle I fought while in England. As much as I enjoyed my first trip back to OKC in Jan. 08, it hurt me in the battle. I see know why God would place me there. I would what grew me the most as a Christian but sharing my faith on the streets, among different world views. The fact that God had place me there and the people I now know and might get to see again, if I ever get married or go on a nationwide road trip.

I think that why I feel humbled is because God has been good to me when I do not deserve it. All that really I am is a sinful human saved by God. The fact that God would save a wretched evil man like myself is beyond my knowing but he did because he loves. How can I ever blame God for not being good show how I really am.

I also want to pass on a great worship CD. It is called Exalted Worship by Scott Krippayne and Kirk Cameron. You can download it from iTunes or buy it from Amazon or WretchedRadio.com. It is a mixture of God honoring and man humbling prayer. The hymns are not your standard man centered worship songs but hymns that teach theology about God. It is some of the best worship I have had from a CD. You can check the lyrics out at WretchedRadio.com.