Friday Night Notes

the beginning of another cold season...


A day shy of December, and the temperature dropped down to -12 C (or 14 F).  The wind made it feel a good 8-10 degrees lower.  I think it's going to be a long cold season.

I was ready for it this time.  I had several layers on, with my full winter jacket, mitts, toque and heat packs.  I still shivered throughout the night, but I was able to minister the Gospel to hundreds of souls for about three hours without literally freezing.  Praise God!

The marketplace was rather quiet (likely due to the sudden cold weather).  By next week, I expect more people will come downtown for various pre-Christmas activities, like office parties and gift shopping.  With the smaller crowds came a measure of relief from persecution, which had been pretty steady and grievous these last few months.  We only had to pick our Bible signs off the ground twice tonight, and we only dealt with a couple of loud opponents who, ultimately, didn't have much fight in them in the freezing cold.

Twice tonight, I shared the Gospel with drunkards.  In both cases, the men heard what I had to say, claimed that God was on their side, and had some glorious purpose for their lives.  Both times, I pointed out the sin of drunkenness, and that God's purpose may not be very glorious; it could mean hell.  I don't think I got very far with either one of them.  The bottom line is that both men had one key lack: the fear of the Lord.  Still, who know what the Lord will do?  The Lord has been known to save drunks.  His will be done.

I was somewhat impressed tonight by two teenage men who regularly attend our Lord's Day church meetings with their mother.  They were walking through the market on their way back home with a number of their friends and came by to offer encouragement to Pastor Tim.  It should be noted that I am not at all convinced that either of the young men are converted, which is why I was pleasantly surprised that they, in front of their unbelieving friends, identified themselves as friends of us "crazy-street-preachers".

Remember us in your prayers, dear saints.  I must admit that I'm somewhat dreading the next few months of evangelism... the cold can be such a deterrent!  I need to take a page out of Joab's book and "play the man", and do what the Lord has commanded believers to do.  That is, to preach the Gospel to all creation.

God bless you!


Rand

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)