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Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:13)

Christians? Where?

Sunday, October 26, 2008
drives me crazy...

From time to time, I come across articles like this one and they aggravate me to no end. Most of the time the "Christians" are actually Romanists, but in this case, it's Copts and Ethiopian religionists.

The problem with the article? It calls a group of wicked idolaters: "Christians". What a mess.

How can I say for sure that these aren't Christians? Simple, those who are true Christians, follow Christ (I told you it was simple); and those who follow Christ worship Him in spirit and in truth. They care nothing for idols, whether they be relics of wood and stone, or whether they be geographical locations:

"The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he." (John 4:19-26)



Rand

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Friday Night Notes

Saturday, October 25, 2008
workin' overtime...


It had been a long time since I last went more than 3 hours on a Friday night evangelistic effort. I was in the marketplace from 6pm to 10:30pm preaching the Gospel, handing out Gospel literature, and holding forth a Bible sign for all to see. I'm pretty beat now.

To kick off my night of evangelism, I once again parked myself in front of a busy shopping mall entrance near the marketplace, and, Bible sign in one hand, Gospel tracts in the other, I gave out a fair number of tracts and had a few short conversations with sinners and saints. I'm really liking this spot for evangelism. One can't preach there because the ambient noise level is too high, and I'm pretty sure that if I tried to preach there, the mall security force would get on my case. Still though, even without actual preaching, I really think the evangelism I get away with there is profitable. Lots and lots of people walk in and out of that mall... surely some of God's lost sheep are mixed into that crowd.

After about an hour of evangelism there, I met up with pastor Tim in the marketplace where we both took turns at preaching the Gospel of Jesus. We again got our fair share of insults and mockeries, but we did have a number of one-on-one conversations. Pastor Tim dealt with a Muslim who declared that Jesus was but a prophet; I have to say watching pastor Tim preach the Truth to that man was quite entertaining (lol).

I too had a couple of one-on-one conversations with souls that were either lost, or really messed up. The first one that comes to mind was a young lady named Megan. This young woman had a problem with our evangelism because she perceived that we were "turning people off" with our preaching. I did my best to impress on Megan that these "people were already off", that there was no "turning them off". I asked her to consider what the apostles message was in the book of Acts and by what method they delivered their message, and then, using that standard, I asked her to judge how biblical our evangelism was. I got a "yes, but..." answer; that is, "I know that's what the Bible says, but I think I know a better way...". Oh dear...

I then spoke to two young men who were obviously lost. They told me they were Romanists but even by that standard, they were in real bad shape. They both confessed to me that they were living in continual fornication and that they feared condemnation. I gave them some Gospel literature and encouraged them to come to church. I also warned them to get busy seeking God, while they still could. They took it all rather well, they were quite earnest. Please pray for these men, their names were Neal and Richard.

There was another Romanist that came by to speak to me. I was able to share the Gospel with him and encouraged him to study the Bible. I told him that after careful Bible study, I couldn't remain in Romanism; I was surprised to see just how well he took that statement. I hope the Lord will use my words to get this man to seek out Truth in God's Word.

Finally, I spoke with a man named Peter. Peter is from Denmark and he is in my city only for a short time. He professed to be a Christian so I was curious to get his impressions on the state of the church in his part of the world. Well, we didn't have to talk to long before I noticed that Peter probably wasn't really a Christian, and if he was, his understanding of Scripture is poor to say the very least. Peter definitely rejected the doctrine of Total Depravity and didn't even understand how repentance fit into the salvation of the Lord. I don't know if I got anywhere with Peter...

Shortly after this conversation, pastor Tim and I made our way back to his place after a very long night of evangelism. We were just beginning to leave the marketplace when a woman ran after us. She had been watching us through the window of a nearby pub, and thought that what we were doing was "sweet and good"; she said that "we really touched her". She hugged both pastor Tim and I and thanked us for our faithfulness. I don't know how genuine all that was, but we took it! LOL! It's not like we get a whole lot of hugs on our Friday night endeavours!

Okay... I'm falling asleep now. I need to get to bed.

God bless you, dear readers.


Rand

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Friday Night Notes

Friday, October 17, 2008
folly on the one hand... wonderful grace on the other...


It was an up-and-down kind of night of street preaching with many cursing our very existence, while others kindly blessed us. The blessings uttered tonight were so gentle and kind that I took courage and continued labouring in the Gospel work even in the midst of persecution. I do not know if I can effectively relay to you, dear readers, just how wonderfully refreshing it is for an evangelist to be encouraged by his fellow brothers and sisters-in-the-Lord; and not just within the walls of the local assembly, but out in the field where he/she is surrounded by the hostility of the devil's world.

The wicked grimaced in disgust at our Bible signs. Some cursed us out loud, others mocked us grievously. Some ripped our Bible tracts and threw the pieces on the street, others yelled: "I love the devil!" We've seen all manner of wickedness tonight, but the Lord, in His awesome mercy, sent us some of His saints to encourage us. I clearly remember a Chinese man walking up to me after reading my Bible sign, and said:

"I'm a Christian too! God bless you in your evangelism!"

Another man was on his cellphone as he walked by me, and after a quick look at my Bible sign, he asked the person he was talking with to hold the line for a moment. He then looked right at me and said:

"God bless you for what you're doing... no seriously... God bless you!"

I also had a chance to speak with Alex, a fellow evangelist who was out distributing Bible tracts. He is always an encouragement to me. We had a pleasant, though short conversation, which again helped me to take heart and soldier on. The Lord bless this brother in his efforts.

Now the night wasn't only "blessing and cursing", there was a few "in-betweens" which I hope the Lord will use my words to save. For example, just before meeting up with brother Alex, a man walked out of a pub and called out for me. He said he had seen me walk by with my Bible sign and wanted to know what my evangelism was all about. I explained John 3:36, the Scripture on my Bible sign, to him and he said:

"Okay... I think what you're doing is right. I'll think about what you said."

I also dealt with a young lady who felt sorry for me (after our conversation... I felt sorry for her). You see, the young lady didn't think the Lord wanted me to stand on a street corner with a Bible sign, because that is just too convicting (I'm not kidding, that's what she said). I explained that I was quite pleased to hear her say that my evangelism was convicting. I also told her that my evangelism was meant to be foolishness to carnal men, and the power of God unto salvation of God's people. She said she understood, but clearly, she didn't get it. She kept claiming to know the Scriptures but everything she said was so terribly un-Scriptural! She eventually left with a friend of hers, wishing God's blessing on me, though she continued to claim that God definitely didn't care much for my method of evangelism. The Lord help this young lady; I remember a time when I believed the same "seeker-friendly" nonsense she believed in.

Both pastor Tim and I handed out a fair number of Bible tracts tonight, so the seeds are out there. Let us pray that they will find good ground!

"And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 13:3-9)

"Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:18-23)


God bless you, dear readers...


Rand

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Early Friday Notes

evangelism report from the Southern Kingdom...

Brother Robert, from "Go Share Your Faith", went out street preaching last night in his part of the globe; West Virginia to be specific. He sent me the following report:

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Happy Friday, I'm not as young as I used to be. I'm tired today. But a good tired. I went to WVU last night to witness to the lost in the bar district; High street and surrounding streets. I got home at about 2:15am and I've about had it.I won't write much today except to mention a sad encounter that I had.

Most of the people you meet up there consider themselves Christians. If you ask them, they'll all say that they are saved. But ask them if they read their bible…no. Ask them if they HAVE a bible….some. And they are out there on High street for one reason; "to have a good time!" as they usually put it.Sadly, this is the state of our youth. They've been deceived…duped into thinking that they've had their "ticket punched" and they are "good to go." Modern Christianity with it's stress on the antics of Charles Finney with his "easy believism" and teary alter calls has done much damage to the faith. They've duped a generation (actually a few generations) into believing that if you pray a prayer, you are good to go and God cares not a whit about how you conduct your life.

I didn't even catch her name. I was standing on a street corner, just finished preaching, and a young woman was waiting to cross the street. She was dressed like a hooker, smelled like booze, and was very glassy-eyed. She took a tract from one of my fellow preachers and when asked, said that she was saved…hmmm. I asked her a simple question: "what are you doing out here at 1:00am then?" She bowed up on me a little bit and said that she's out here to "have a good time." I asked her what it meant to "have a good time" and did it involve drinking to excess?…she told me she didn't like the way my questions were going and pulled out the "are you judging me" card.I told her no…I wasn't judging her, I was just asking her to reconcile for me, that she professed to being a Christian, bought by the blood of Christ, living for Him everyday, yet out on the streets of Morgantown dressed so provocatively and mostly drunk to boot!She told me "What's wrong with the way I'm dressed? (her outfit was short as can be, tight as can be, and verrrry low cut. Wha??). I said, "If you died this instant, and had to stand before God, would He be pleased at what you're wearing?At that she told me that she didn't like this conversation, and bolted across the street in a huff.

Trust me…she isn't unique…I met many like that last night…so toasted that they couldn't see straight or form a sentence…yet they are all going to Heaven…Please, let's clean up this mess. Let's tell the truth about Christianity, no more "easy-believism" ok? Let's call sin what it is…let's quit telling people that Jesus just loves them any old way they are and tell them that the wrath of God abides on them and they are sinners, that are commanded to repent before a just and holy God.

I trust that God will call His own, that this is not a surprise to Him, a bad message cannot thwart His plans, His sheep know His voice… but let's quit shaming Christ by not telling the truth of the message He's entrusted to us. He deserves better. Praise to God for the tracts that got handed out…for the people that heard the good news of Jesus Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria

bob

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Please pray for Brother Robert and the men who serve the Lord with him.

The Lord bless your efforts, Brother Robert, and know that you have a brother in the Northern Kingdom who is involved in the same work, amongst a people who are just as hard.


Rand

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Method of Evangelism (For Robert)

Wednesday, October 15, 2008
remember... "by faith"...

This post is in response to my friend, Robert, who sent me an e-mail asking me how, practically, I evangelize...

This audio-post is my answer to his e-mail:



Click Here!



God bless you,


Rand

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Thursday Night Notes

Thursday, October 09, 2008
sorry for the curve ball...



This coming weekend, up here in Canada, is Thanksgiving weekend. With this special occasion comes a number of activities and responsibilities, so instead of wearing myself right clean out (which is something I have to avoid at all cost), I decided to go out street preaching a day earlier.

Pastor Tim was teaching a young peoples Bible class tonight, so it was just me and Jesus on the streets of my city. At first I walked around downtown with my Bible sign and offering Bible tracts to all those who wanted some. A few souls took up my offer, but many sighed and gave me a look of disgust. One young man, after reading Romans 6:23 on my Bible sign, went as far as to yell at me from a restaurant patio:

"We're all going to die, with our without sin, so why don't you throw away the sign and get lost, you idiot!"

I usually turn the cheek to such vileness, but tonight, I felt I needed to deal with the man. So I walked up to the man, which made him very uncomfortable... I don't think he was to pleased to be seen talking with a street preacher.

"You're right," I said, "we are all going to die one day. Physically. But you will die spiritually as well my poor friend, and I won't."

He continued cursing, albeit, in a smaller voice. I don't think I got anywhere with the young man, but my actions got me plenty of attention from everyone in the restaurant. Dozens of souls took their time reading the Scriptures on my sign, praise God! The Lord use His Word to work what He wills.

Shortly after this one-on-one exchange, I decided to stand between the entrances of two major malls in the downtown core (the above picture is the place). Hundreds of souls walked by, all of them reading the Scriptures on my sign; I offered Bible tracts and gave out a fair number. I was even blessed, three times no less, by a kindly woman who walked by me; he literally said: "Oh! Bless you! Bless you! Bless you!" Again, the Lord use those tracts as He sees fit.

I spent a little over half an hour between those malls, and then I decided to head back to the marketplace, to the old faithful preaching spot, where I preached repentance unto God and faith in Christ Jesus. I had a couple of one-on-one conversations (some seemed more profitable than others), and again distributed a fair number of tracts. One young man, however, took one of my tracts, ripped it in two, and handed it back to me; I think he felt that was some mighty great statement. Oh well. Can you imagine how such an one will feel when he meets the Lord at judgment? I shudder at the very thought.

I praise God for His help and blessing on me tonight. For over two hours I laboured for the Gospel sakes, and I assure you, it was all by the power of the Living God. I also praise the Lord that one of my work colleagues, who was walking by my preaching spot, accepted one of my Bible tracts. Finally, I praise God that He helped me preach through all sorts of grievous and ungodly distractions (I thought of sharing a few examples with you, but it's kind of gross, and well, I'm sure you can well imagine what manner of folly I see in the marketplace at night time).

With that, I close the notes for this week. Dear readers, have a blessed weekend, and God bless you all!

To my Canadian readers, happy Thanksgiving!

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

(Psaml 136:1-3)


Rand

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Friday Night Notes

Saturday, October 04, 2008
c-c-c-cold...


Every year at about this time I'm caught off guard by Canada's frigid Fall weather. I went out with a couple of sweaters and a small jacket, but I still froze all night. Next week, Lord willing, I'll be ready.

It was, as always, an interesting night of street preaching. It was good to have Pastor Tim back from his trip to Great Britain, two street preachers are definitely better than one! Pastor Tim had a number of conversations with sinners tonight and I gave out a fair number of Bible tracts. Both of us had a chance to speak with Mike, a young man I witnessed to a few months ago; he still unsaved, but praise God, he still can't walk passed us without stopping to talk.

Sadly, there was plenty of hatred and mockery directed at us tonight. Oh dear... some of the vile things we hear... and see! Example: a young man walked by me and accepted a Bible tract I was offering... upon receiving it, he spat on it and threw it to the ground. As far as the words, well it wouldn't be proper for me to repeat the blasphemies and the coarse language we endured tonight. Do I ever live amongst a people of unclean lips...

Those of you who have been reading my blog for some time will remember a man named Richard, who visited our church on a number of occasions in the past. Well, I saw him again tonight. He was carrying a paper bag which more than likely was concealing a bottle of booze. Suffice it to say that Richard didn't have any time to talk to me tonight. Poor lost soul, the Lord be merciful unto him...

Moments after seeing Richard, a young man with piercings all over his face walked up to me and asked me to stop forcing my religion on others...

"Do I have a gun?" I asked.

"No," he answered.

"A knife?" I pressed.

"No," he again said, "but you don't need that to force your religion on others."

"Okay," I said with a grin on my face, "how am I doing it then? Am I using the power of my mind to force you to believe in what I'm preaching?"

Not having a reasonable and coherent answer to give me, he just yelled at me for a short moment and walked away. I wondered for a brief moment why my evangelism upset him so much, and then the reason came to me: he didn't want to be reminded. I assure you, that young man, on a daily basis, sees and hears things that he doesn't like or that he disapproves of, and yet, he doesn't get at all worked up about it. He just shrugs and moves on. Ah! but when faced with the Gospel... when faced with the Word of God... he is reminded of his wretchedness and that... that he just can't ignore. Reminds me of the following verse:

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (John 3:19-20)

Moment after this, I tried my best to share the Gospel with a drunkard and after that, with a sodomite. I don't think I got too far with either one of them, but I tried my best. The Lord use my efforts as He sees fit. After talking with these souls, I was reminded just how wretched the lives of the unconverted are; lives filled with self-deceit, immorality, and licence. What a grand catastrophe the Fall of Man was and is.


That's the notes for tonight. Thank you, dear readers, for again keeping track with our evangelistic escapades. I ask you to pray, dear saints of God, for both Pastor Tim and I; both of us have and are suffering from health problems that could definitely slow us down dramatically. It is my hope that the Lord will continue to use us of years to come... that said, His will be done.

Have a good weekend, dear readers... enjoy the Lord's Day!


Rand

Ps: I want to thank my brother-in-the-Lord, Layton, for taking the above picture of me with his camera. It's nice to have a clear picture at the top of my Friday Night Notes... ;-)

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