Does a Complaint Trump Our 1st Amendment Right?
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On November 10th, 2007, Brother Robert and I had been preaching on in the Pismo Beach Plaza. It was one of those picture perfect days at the beach – not too hot, not too cold – so there was a good crowd gathered.
This photo was from a different day. The reason I posted it again will become obvious as you read on.
We preached for over an hour to those that sat in the sun and passed by. I was up preaching when I saw a Pismo Beach Police patrol car out of the corner of my eye. It’s always nice to see them because I know they are there to protect us and enforce the laws of the land.
I believe the Pismo Beach Police Department does a fine job of uphold our laws and keeping our town safe. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with the officers – even witnessing to several of them. This day was a bit different. Not that I had a bad experience with them but felt maybe the officer wasn’t upholding our 1st Amendment Rights.
On a side note: Does a Christian have, “rights?” I mean, we were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ – we are not our own. Mmm…
You be the judge. Was my 1st Amendment Rights violated or was the officer right in shutting me down? I mean, he said someone did complain about the preaching, sighting California Penal Code § 415.
When I got home I looked it up and here it is. Please read it and listen to the short podcast of the encounter with the officer. We didn’t get to finish our discussion - he was pulled away on another call.
California Penal Code § 415
§ 415. Disturbing the Peace
Any of the following persons shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than 90 days, a fine of not more than four hundred dollars ($400), or both such imprisonment and fine:
(1) Any person who unlawfully fights in a public place or challenges another person in a public place to fight.
(2) Any person who maliciously and willfully disturbs another person by loud and unreasonable noise.
(3) Any person who uses offensive words in a public place which are inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction.
Please leave a post to let me know what you think. Does our First Amendment rights end when there is a complaint? Did I handle myself in a Christian manner? Do you have any suggestions, critiques or comments?
In spite of this encounter with the police, Brother Robert and I moved and continued to preach. It was getting dark and cold and there were few people there. However, we continued to read aloud from God’s Word, I began expounding a bit on the 3rd Commandment, when a group of young people (two guys & two girls), standing by railing on the pier began intentionally blaspheming God’s Name – loudly. They began attacking Creationism and Christianity in general.
They were collage students; one of them named Kyle came on real strong with his best intellectual arguments. Problem is, I’m a bag of hammers when it comes to debating intellectually – so I did my best, just to keep things on edge for a bit, thinking it might draw in a few more to hear the Gospel. Anyhow, it got pretty hot between Kyle and I as we debated Creation vs. Evolution. Sure enough it drew in a few more people.
I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder. I looked over and was my Pastor from our first church we used to attend. Pastor Robert and his wife Tammy showed up and asked, “What are you guys debating?” I think Pastor thought he would come in for back up. It was cool.
Pastor Robert began talking with Kyle, asking him about his religious background. This gave me opportunity to speak with the other three. After about 15 minutes or so, Pastor Robert had Kyle calmed down and I had been carrying on a civil (intellectual) conversation with the other three. They all were very resistant to God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ. One of the young ladies was Jewish and outright rejected Jesus as Messiah.
Pastor ended up leaving and I spent the next hour or so reasoning with these collage kids. As I continued to press them with the Law, the Holy Spirit seemed to be breaking up the hardness of their hearts. One of them asked, “Ok, if the whole world is on their way to Hell, why do Christians say God is all loving? Why does He want to send everyone to Hell?”
I took this as my queue for giving them the Gospel. As I began to share God’s love with them, it seemed like they softened even more. They were not justifying themselves in their sin, or blaspheming God’s Name – just quietly listening without argument.
In the end, they heard the Gospel at least three of four times and here’s the best part, they ALL took Bibles and tracts. Can you believe it? We should – “the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.” Please pray for Kyle and these three dear souls. God is so good and His Word is true!
Is preaching the Gospel worth it? Is getting hassled by the police worth it? Can we get discouraged? Could the beginning of this encounter with Kyle and his friends, seem to some as unloving? Yes – Yes – Yes! It’s all worth it.
I thank God for this encounter with Kyle and his friends. I don’t need confirmation from God but He knows we need encouragement from time to time. Wow – what a blessing to partake in Gospel fellowship with our Triune God. Praise be to the Lamb that was slain!
Posted by Ambassador at 1:38 AM | 4 comments
Saturday, Oct 27, 2007Why Listen To Jesus? - 2007 Pismo Clam Festival
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In our Sunday school class we are working our way through John Piper’s book “What Jesus Demands of the World.” Last week, one of the chapters we looked at was chapter 6, in regard to Jesus’ command to, “Listen to Me.”
He called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand.”—Mark 7:14
As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”—Luke 8:8
Take care then how you hear.—Luke 8:18
And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”—Luke 10:38-42
Meditating on these and other related passages has helped me to see why people don’t seem to care much for what we have to say when we attempt to share our faith. Whether it’s open air preaching, 1-2-1 witnessing, or even handing out gospel tracts – many you come in contact with have no desire to listen.
Why won’t they? I mean, it’s the Good News, right? Why won’t a fallen man, dead in trespasses and sins, who the Bible says is “condemned already” listen?
They will not listen to us because they won’t listen to Jesus. Why won’t they listen to Jesus? John Piper sights this passage, “You seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you” (John 8:37). Then Piper says, “Their minds and hearts are shaped (or stuffed) in such a way that when he speaks, what he says won’t fit in their hearts.”
Oh and remember the encounter Jesus had with Pilate, when Pilate says, “What is truth”? Jesus responds, “Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37) Piper says “…our condition as fallen sinners unfits us for hearing the truth—especially as it comes from Jesus…When Jesus speaks, unless God acts to give us ears to hear and eyes to see, there will be no place in us for the words of Jesus.”
In summary, people will not hear Jesus because, 1) His words have no place in them, and 2) unless God enables them to hear and see they will not.
What does all this mean? I mean what is the application for me right now?
Praise God because He is Sovereign in all things – even the salvation of man.
I’ve received feedback from concerned Christians in regard to street evangelism. They say things like, “How do people respond to you? Don’t people get upset that you speak so openly about their sin?” Often times Christians are worried about the fact that people might see us as being judgmental, unloving, and/or condemning. Here is another typical question that I’ve heard from more than one skeptical Christian, “Why do you keep on preaching when no one is listening to you - they are just walking by?”
Again, God is in total control in saving men – from beginning to end. In addition to the fact that in spite of my fears of how people will respond, whether they believe I’m being judgmental, unloving or even condemning, those who wont “hear Jesus” wont hear us either. Those who our Sovereign God enables to “hear Jesus” will hear us.
Christian, our desire should be to JUST BE FAITHFUL. As long as we are sharing the Gospel in love with this lost world, we shouldn’t be worried about how people will respond. I guarantee this, they will respond to us the same way that mankind has always responded to the revealed Word of God. If they are not of God there will be no Holy Spirit prepared heart to receive the truth. If they have in fact been “made alive” to receive the Word of Christ, THEY WILL RECEIVE IT.
My son Sawyer and I went to the Pismo Clam Festival last weekend. We walked around for a half-hour, looking for a place to set up. Every place we stopped, we would have to contend with loud music. All the places we normally preach, pass out tracts, and have good 1-2-1’s was packed full of people, but with the loud music, it would be impossible to preach or carry on a conversation. So we ended up setting up half way down the pier.
I passed out tracts and preached on and off for about four hours. There were a ton of people in attendance. There were a ton of people who just walked by and didn’t listen.
I preached for a while without any amplification but I ran out of steam because the wind was blowing so hard. I brought my portable PA and cranked it up – thinking to myself, “The police are going to shut you down Allen.” However, while I was preaching, two police officers road up on bikes and asked me if every thing was ok. One of them said, “No one is hassling you are they?” I responded, “No.” The officer went on to say, “If you have any problems with people hassling you, let us know.” What a blessing!
Even though most people just walked past and wouldn’t listen, there was one sixteen-year-old gent named Nathan who stopped to chat. Nathan has a Mormon background. I don’t think his family or him are practicing but he mentioned that he had attend a Mormon Church on and off.
After getting an idea of what his religious background was, I took Nathan through a few of the Ten Commandments. We can’t see a person’s heart but this kid was convicted – you could just tell. I shared with Nathan some of God’s characteristics – His holiness, righteousness, goodness, and the fact that He hates injustice. I dwelt there for a bit, helping Nathan to understand that God is just and hates sin and that God is a God of wrath towards all who sin. The little guy’s face said it all – he knew he was in trouble. I asked Him, “Nathan, are you going to be sent to Hell for your sins against God?” He said, “Yes,” looking up just for a second. I asked him if he deserved to go to Hell. He responded by saying, “Yes.” This young man was concerned.
I so wanted to give him some relief by sharing the Good News with him – but I didn’t. I just kept thinking, “Not yet, take the time.” At length I spoke with Nathan about Hell. I shared with him every passage I knew about it. I spent some time speaking about the hopelessness of Hell.
I thought to myself, “How can this little guy bear all this?” I also thought, “Wow, here we are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and God brought this one guy, out of all of the rest, to listen to God’s Word.”
Finally I shared the Good News with him. I also took the time to share with him the difference between the Mormon Jesus vs. the Biblical Jesus – two different Jesus’. Also defining repentance and faith, emphasizing Eph 2:8-9.
Before we departed Nathan said he would repent and trust in Jesus when he got home. I also gave Nathan a New Testament. Please pray for this little guy.
The audio is from last Sunday. I met a nice young lady named Uli. I hope that’s how she spells her name. This encounter is also pretty lengthy – but well worth it. They all are! It was nice to have Uli ask, what I thought were genuine questions. Quite often people will ask disingenuous questions just to dodge the subject at hand. But Uli didn’t. Although she was honest about the fact that she is still wrestling between her Catholic upbringing (there is a God) and what she is leaning is school (evolution), she did ask some good genuine questions. I pray that God will use my witness to save her soul for His Great Namesake.
Oh yea, John Piper gives us a partial list of reasons why people should listen to Jesus:
1) No One Ever Spoke Like This Man
2) Jesus Speaks the Very Words of God
3) Jesus’ Words Silence Supernatural Powers
4) Jesus Has the Words of Eternal Life
5) Jesus’ Words Awaken Faith
I love it! I believe these are also five more good reasons why Christians should share the Gospel with the lost. Five additional reasons why we should preach the Word, in season and out of season. These are just five other reasons why you Christian should be deliberate in sharing the Words of Jesus Christ with strangers, friends, family – all creatures.
Posted by Ambassador at 2:55 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Tuesday, Oct 23, 2007COMPASSION FOR THE MULTITUDE - 2007 AG Harvest Festival
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Before going forward, listen to this John Piper Jam about the Cross.
“And they say unto Him, We have here but five loaves and two fishes.
He said, Bring them here to Me.” Matthew 14:17, 18
I recently downloaded a CH Sprurgeon sermon entitled “Compassion for the Lost.” It is now one of my all time favorite sermons. If you haven’t listen to any of the audio I’ve posted, I pray that you listen to this one. Please take the time, YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY YOU DID.
You can download the audio here:
http://tinyurl.com/2lk7dz
If you prefer, you can download the text transcript here:
http://tinyurl.com/2wlvde
As I listened to it (three times), I thought about our Lord Jesus Christ. He had compassion for the multitude like none other. I asked myself, “Self, why does your concern for the lost come and go? Why don’t you have that deep, lasting, compassion – the way Jesus did?”
I thought, “give me a break Allen, you’re not Jesus. He had compassion like no other because He is God.” Yep – that’s true! But then Spurgeon quoted this verse, “Greater works than these shall you do, because I go unto My Father.” Then he said, “Let the words sink down into your ears. Let the vision rise perpetually before your eyes. See your work. Great as it is, dispirited as you may be by the great multitude who crave your help…” Christian, our work is to be compassionate and get to work taking the Gospel to the lost.
In the sermon he likens our gifts to the “five loaves and two fishes,” that Jesus commanded to be brought to Him. Small and weak as they may be it is our Lord Jesus Christ who multiplies them, so we can distribute to others in need. The little bit of weak compassion I have, that comes and goes, I must take it to the Lord Jesus. It is He who will multiply and give back to me in greater measure for the good of the lost.
Spurgeon went on to say “As Christ fed the hungry, so the Church, wherever she meets with those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, is to bless them in the name of Him who has said, “They shall be filled.” Your business as a Church today, and my business as a member of the Church of Christ, is to feed hungry souls who are perishing for lack of knowledge with the bread of life.
They had thought over the problem of how to feed these people and had come to the conclusion that they could not do it. As they could not feed them, the next best thing would be to send them away to provide for themselves. Since they could not supply their necessities, they would endeavor to shut their eyes to their needs. “Master, send them away. Let them go and buy for themselves.” The Master promptly replies, “They need not depart. There is no necessity for it—you give them to eat.”
I also remembered something else when I listened to this sermon. At the end of September, my brother in Christ, Robert Bass and I set up a booth at the Harvest Festival in Arroyo Grande.
Brother Robert is a man who adores the Lord Jesus and is driven by this love for the souls of men. Never have I known someone who desires that men are saved like Brother Robert.
It was pretty hot during the festival. Robert sat outside the booth and ministered to “the multitude.” It was a privilege to minister along side this man of God. I listened to him plead with the hard hearts. I saw Brother Robert share the Gospel so tenderly to four little Catholic girls (4yrs old to 6). It was the most precious thing to see. At one point on Saturday, neither one of us had eaten all day, just one encounter after the other – God is faithful – I was going to take a break under the booth canopy we had set up. I went under the cool of the tent, grabbed my bottle of cold water, took a big drink and looked out at Robert sitting in the hot sun, perspiring like mad. He was just pouring himself out Christian!
Brother Robert is an example of compassion in action. If ever I knew a man with all the excuses NOT to be faithful and obedient to God’s command for us to be, as Spurgeon puts it, “warriors who must carry the victorious arms of the Cross to the uttermost parts of the earth,” it would be Robert. Robert is paralyzed from the waist down – but in Christ Jesus, I’ve never seen someone battle so valiantly. He has health and comfort issues, but I’ve never heard him use them as an excuse why he can’t “hit the streets.” With all that he endures, he’s there – not thinking of himself but allows the compassion that God gives him to compel him.
Christian, what is your excuse? Why is it so difficult to get you out of your comfort zone? Do you have any compassion for the lost? Take it to our Lord Jesus, ask and believe He will multiply it. Take your weak tongue to Him. Do you tremble at the thought of handing a stranger a gospel tract? Take it to your God and ask Him for help.
In the sermon, Spurgeon said, “Barrenness, leanness and sterility have seized upon all the fields of man’s tillage. They yield him nothing. He sows, but he reaps not. He plows but obtains no harvest. By the works of the flesh no man living can be justified, and in the devices of human tradition or human reason, no souls can possibly find substantial comfort. See, disciples of Christ, see the great need which is before your eyes. Open the eyes of your understanding. Let your heart move, let your hearts beat with sympathy. Let your souls be alive to pity—do feel for those millions! I beseech you, if you cannot help them, weep over them. Let there be now before your mind’s eye a clear and distinct recognition of the many hundreds and thousands who are crying to you, “Feed us, for we famish! Give us bread to eat, or we die!”
There are people who need to hear the Gospel. BUT why will you not MAKE TIME to share the message that God uses to save the souls of men? You say, “Not today the games on.” You say, “Can’t make it today, I didn’t use my time wisely.” You say, “Something came up.” When is a good time for you? When it’s too late?
Spurgeon goes on to say this:
“The blasts of Hell and the wrath of Heaven would fall upon us if we renounced the task. The world’s only hope— shall we put that out? The lone star that gilds the darkness—shall we quench that? The saviors of men, and shall we fold our arms and let them die? No! By the love we bear for Your name—by the bonds that unite us to You—by everything that is holy before God and humane in the sight of our fellow mortals—by everything that is tender and gentle in the throbbing of our hearts, and the yearning of our hearts—we say we must, though we feel we cannot!
…there is a strong tendency in our hearts to shift personal responsibility. “Let us send them away into the villages to buy meat.” We look towards some Bethsaida in the distance and say, “Let them go there and get food.” This is a strong temptation with many Churches. Perhaps, you say, “We have not got all this work to do ourselves—there are other Churches. Let them do their part. In all the suburbs of London there are Chapels. There is the parish Church— cannot they hear the Gospel there? There is the City Missionary going about after them. What need is there that we should visit them? No doubt there are some good men preaching in the street. Why should I do it? Let them go into the villages and get meat.
Ah, but not so—the Master said to you, “You give them to eat.” “YOU.” Let this Church feel that it should look upon the world as if it were the only Church and do its utmost as if it had no helper under Heaven but had all the work to do itself. And let the entire body of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ—instead of looking to societies for evangelization, or to commerce, or to governments—remember that she is the sole savior of the world. Christ never was incarnate in kings and in princes. His incarnation today is in the sacramental host of His elect.””
Christian, make no mistake about it – it’s you’re blessed duty to take the Cross of Jesus Christ to the lost people of this world. But why is it so difficult to get us to do it? Why? You don’t have any excuses – valid one’s anyway. Let me give you one more Spurgeon quote: “The world’s salvation is given instrumentally into your hands. As far as your power lies, you are to consider yourselves as the world’s hope, and you are to act as such. And what shall I say of you if, instead of accepting this charge from Christ, you shall sit still and do nothing? If, after having built this great house in which you meet, you should disregard others who hear not the Word of Christ—if, being fed with Heaven’s food yourselves, you shall be satisfied to let others perish—I tell you that, as a Church, Ichabod shall be written upon your brow!”
Brothers and sisters, Spurgeon spoke to his flock with tender love, “do you hear it?” My love for the Church of Jesus Christ is growing every day. It is this same kind of love that compels me to say what I say. Don’t sit back and do nothing.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1
Please pray for those who heard the Gospel during this event. Here is a short list of names you can lift up to our Merciful God: Steven, Marilyn, Thomas, Jacob, Kyle and family, Abbie and Ashton, Nate and Kaitlan, Frank, Jordan
Kobe, Zach, Mario, Al, Joe and Chad, Daniel, 4 little catholic girls, Taylor/ Kaitlan, Bart and Kristen, Rockey and Angela, Bill and Donald, Jed and Devin, Anthony, Colby, Nancy, Jen and Chad, 4 evolutionist, Cathy L, Kylee, Dawn and Terry, Davie, Kelley, Jacqueline, Karly and Andrew, Jessica and Cathie, Casey, Steve, Taren, Joe, Loren and Samantha, Michele and Steve, Jenell, James and Reanna, Alex, Michelle, Erica, and Savannah, John and his friend....they were about 13-14 years old...admitttedly gay and proud of it, Michael and Tyler, Matthew , Alex, and Dennis, Philippe.
Posted by Ambassador at 12:26 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Friday, Oct 12, 2007Klaus Makes Martin Luther Roll in His Grave
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Ps 36:1-4 says, “An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good. He devises wickedness on his bed; He sets himself in a way that is not good; He does not abhor evil.”
I think Martin Luther would be appalled if he knew his countrymen have turned so far away from God. I met Klaus and Dorothy when they stopped and asked me what I was doing (in regard to the microphone I was carrying).
Klaus did most of the talking. Listen closely, it is obvious, “there is no fear of God before his eyes.”
Reread the passage above and then listen to this encounter.
You’ll notice that as we go through four of the Ten Commandments, Klaus trivializes his sin and attempts to justify himself at every turn. After I listened to it again, I wish I had emphasized that his “trivial” sin is against a Holy God. In retrospect, I should have dwelt on the fact that this brazen man would be cast into the lake of fire, by God whom he has sinned against, if he didn’t turn.
There was something else that that Klaus said that would make Martin Luther roll in his grave. If you share your faith regularly you’ll hear it. He said, “You shouldn’t read the Bible that literally.” As the passage above says, “he has ceased to be wise and do good.”
Please pray that God would use my weak attempt to share the truth with Klaus and Dorothy for His glory.
Posted by Ambassador at 8:55 PM | MAKE A COMMENT
Friday, Oct 12, 2007Men Loved Darkness
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Here is another encounter I had just as the sun was setting on Tuesday. Mike and Lisa were on their way to walk the pier when I attempted to ask them a few questions. They stopped and Mike and I had this conversation.
Mike had the Christian lingo down. He quoted a few Scriptures and said no matter how he lived, he would always believe in God. In the end, Mike seemed to agree with John 3:19, “…men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” Please pray for Him and Lisa.
Posted by Ambassador at 8:16 PM | MAKE A COMMENT
Friday, Oct 12, 2007Not Forsaking Our Own Assembling Together
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What a trip! Pastor Tim, of Grace in San Luis Obispo is preaching a sermon series called, “What in the World is the Church?” So far he has taken us through:
The People of God (1 Corinthians 1:1-9)
A People of the Book (1 Peter 1:22-2:3)
A People Committed (Hebrews 10:19-25)
This series of sermons has caused much discussion in the Peek home for sure. Especially the sermon God gave to Pastor Tim based on Hebrews 10:19-25.
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
The Holy Spirit challenged us with the fact that since the Gospel is true, let us commit together. Since we have a new access to God…since we have a family Advocate with God – let’s draw near together, hold fast our confession together, and consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. Isn’t that awesome?
My family and I have been attending Grace since November of 2006. However, we haven’t developed any close relationships. We just don’t know very many people yet. My excuse has been, “the church is so big and there are so many people.” We attend church every Sunday. But the fact of the matter is I haven’t led my family to be more deliberate in “assembling” ourselves with others from Grace other than on Sunday morning service.
How in the world does this relate to evangelism? Well, Tuesday afternoon, my son Sawyer and I met a couple named Jeff and Kim - a very nice young couple who allowed me to interview them.
When our encounter was ending, Jeff said something like, “see you at church on Sunday!” I kind of laughed and said, “Ok!….” I thought to myself, “I didn’t invite him to church.” After Jeff and Kim had gone, my son Sawyer said, “Dad! They go to Grace!” Sawyer also indicated that we just saw them the Sunday before in passing – Jeff and Kim had also sat a couple of pews just in front of my family.
It wasn’t immediate, but I began thinking of Pastor Tim’s sermon. The words, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some…” came to mind. Ouch…Conviction!
Posted by Ambassador at 1:22 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Friday, Oct 12, 2007God is Faithful to Answer Prayer
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This is going to sound prejudice – I know it will. Please know this, I love older people. I mean, I have a mom and dad, grandparents, and tons of friends that are much older than me and I dearly love them. However, when we are on the streets sharing the Gospel, I am terrified of sharing with someone that would be considered a “Senior Citizen.”
In my experience, many older folks are pretty much set in their ways. In spite of the fact that they are theoretically closer to death than a younger person, they can be pretty hard.
Then there is the issue of showing respect to your elders. I’m always thinking in my head, “oh, no, I hope they don’t think I’m disrespecting them…” But they need to think about eternity, they need to think about their sin and God’s justice, holiness, and their need for the righteousness of Christ Jesus.
Well, on Tuesday, God showed me that my fears are empty. I also have been a bit convicted that I often do not even try to share the Gospel with seniors. Shame on me…
I had a very pleasant conversation with Robert and Vicky - they were so cool!
Check this out! I love it when I hear this. Toward the end of our conversation, I asked Robert and Vicky if they are born again. They said they weren’t. Robert said, “Our son is born again.”
Again, I love it! Do you think Robert and Vicki’s son is praying for them regularly. If he is a born again Christian he is. I know that I’m praying for my unsaved parents and loved ones. I pray that God would lead them to someone who would share the Gospel with them again. I pray that God would soften their hearts so the seed of the Gospel would “take root,” and they would become saved.
God is faithful to answer prayer. There we were in Pismo Beach on a Tuesday afternoon, Robert, Vicky and I, talking about eternity, personal sin against God, Judgement Day, Hell, The Cross, the Resurrection of Jesus, their need to repent and have faith towards Jesus.
Not only that. But I also had prayed for divine encounters that day. So here we were…OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL. For His glory!
Saints, please pray for these dear people. Both Robert and Vicky were tenderhearted towards the message. Also lift up their son – pray that God would encourage him, strengthen his faith and bless his family.
Posted by Ambassador at 12:27 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Thursday, Oct 11, 2007Nothing New Under the Sun
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I met a CalPoly student named Jath on Tuesday afternoon. He was actually leaving but gave me just a few minutes. Thanks Jath!
Did you know that it’s going around? I should say, it is still going around - nothing new under the sun. Maybe it’s just an old misconception. Or maybe it’s something a bit more sinister. Let me ask you a question: Do you think you can earn God’s favor by proving to God that you’re a good person? If you are a born again Christian, your answer will be, “definitely not!” However, fallen man believes he can.
I must admit, I believed it for most of my life as well – “if a person is good, God will accept them.”
When I asked Jath, “What is your purpose in life?” His response was, “You can tell that I’m religious, so I feel that my purpose here in life is to somehow accomplish a greater good and prove to God that I’m a good person.”
Our view of ourselves is one of self-centeredness and pride. We compare ourselves to each other instead of comparing ourselves to the perfection of Jesus Christ – God.
I asked Jath, “What do you think happens when you die?”
He responded, “If you live your life correctly you can go to heaven…” At least he was honest about what he believed.
I did my best to share what the Bible says in regard to our “goodness,” or lack thereof I should say. I pray that the Holy Spirit would use this witness encounter to cause Jath to flee from God’s wrath and turn to Christ Jesus in faith. Please pray of Jath.
Posted by Ambassador at 11:48 PM | MAKE A COMMENT
Thursday, Oct 11, 2007Tuesday Afternoon
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It was late Tuesday afternoon when Sawyer and I went to Pismo Beach. We met a very nice young lady named Vanessa (14). Joanne, Vanessa’s Grandmother, stood by and allowed me to ask Vanessa a few spiritual questions.
Vanessa and her Grandma are originally from Santa Maria – they are now living on the East Coast. After sharing the Gospel with Vanessa, I had the privilege of spending a few minutes with Joanne.
Joanne indicated that she used to attend a “word of faith church.” She said that she had been hurt in this experience. She then went to a church that ended up being “legalistic.” When her family began having problems, the church didn’t offer much support. She was a bit distraught with church and said, “I think I need to go back to square one.”
Joanne opened up and told me the sad story about her daughter, Vanessa’s mom, who is a recovering drug addict. Vanessa’s mom had four children who all ended up in foster care due to her lifestyle. Three of the children found good foster homes. Joanne wasn’t comfortable with the home Vanessa ended up in so she now lives with her. Isn’t that a loving thing to do? I could tell Joanne really loves her granddaughter. In spite of the love she has for Vanessa, their relationship is going through a tough time.
Joanne indicated that she was a born again believer. Please pray for this dear family. They are going through a real tough season. Pray for the salvation of Vanessa and her mom who needs surgery from a self-inflicted injury.
Posted by Ambassador at 11:20 PM | MAKE A COMMENT
Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007Labor Day in Pismo Pt.4
Download this episode (19 min)
The sun began to go down. The heat began to subside. I was tired and ready to go home. Then brother Robert said, “hey Allen, you want to do another open air?” He asked if I brought my portable PA system. I said, “yes,” and “yes.”
I also brought my mannequin. We set up right at the mouth of Pismo pier, underneath a light. I laid the inflatable body down and draped the dark blue sheet over it. Robert and I just stared at it for a minute and people began to stop and see what happened.
This was only the second time we have used the dead body approach but it is effective. Robert opened up and spoke about death. This relates to us all – no matter who you are or where you come from. When we hear of someone dying, or if we speak of death, people think of their own mortality.
Robert preached for twenty minutes and I preached for awhile to. I was a bit bummed because my MP3 recorder ended up being to close to the speaker of the PA – much of the recording was too distorted to use. So this podcast is clips of the less distorted portions of the open air. Midway through the recording quality improves quite a bit.
Though the recording quality could have been better, the number of people who came to hear the Gospel preached was far more than what I expected. There was even a couple walking by that stopped and set their lawn-chairs up to sit and listen.
Many people stayed to listen, many people passed by. I read a something that Spurgeon wrote that I often think about when people just walk on past. He said, “In the street, a man must keep himself alive, and use many illustrations and anecdotes, and sprinkle a quaint remark here and there. To dwell long on a point will never do. Reasoning must be brief, clear, and soon done with. The discourse must not be labored or involved, neither must the second head depend upon the fi